Briefing 
 

The new Parliament Bureau: electing Vice-Presidents and Quaestors 

The European Parliament is set to elect its 14 Vice-Presidents and five Quaestors on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Following the election and installation of Parliament’s new President, MEPs will elect the 14 Vice-Presidents and five Quaestors who, together with the President, comprise Parliament’s Bureau. These votes will determine the composition of the Bureau for the next two-and-a-half years - i.e. the remainder of the 9th legislative term to 2024.


The Bureau lays down rules for Parliament’s smooth functioning. Among its other duties, it draws up Parliament’s preliminary draft budget and decides on administrative, staff and organisational matters. In addition to their roles in the Bureau, Vice-Presidents can replace the President including in chairing plenary debates and in representing the Parliament at specific ceremonies or acts, when necessary. Quaestors deal with administrative matters directly affecting MEPs themselves, and they are members of the Bureau in an advisory capacity.


In electing the members of the Bureau, political groups aim to ensure that the Vice-Presidents and Quaestors broadly reflect the numerical strength of the groups and take into account the voting results of the President's election.


How are they elected?


Under Rule 15, candidates for the Vice-President positions are nominated on the same basis as for the President - i.e. either by a political group or by a group of MEPs reaching the low threshold (1/20th of MEPs).


The 14 Vice-Presidents are elected by a single ballot, with an absolute majority of votes cast. If the number of successful candidates is lower than 14, a second ballot is held for the remaining seats, under the same conditions. If a third vote is necessary to complete the process, a simple majority is sufficient (Rule 17). Quaestors are elected in the same way (Rule 18).


Procedure: Election of EP Bureau

Votes: Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 January