Former Belgian PM Sophie Wilmès elected vice-president of European Parliament
Former Belgian prime minister Sophie Wilmès was elected as one of the 14 vice-presidents of the European Parliament on Tuesday in Strasbourg.
Wilmès was one of 11 candidates who obtained the required absolute majority of votes cast in the first round. The threshold was 333 votes, with Wilmès coming in 10th with 371 votes.
The 720 MEPs elected 14 vice-presidents and five Quaestors. Along with European Parliament president Roberta Metsola, who was re-elected by a large majority on Tuesday morning, they form the Bureau. This body handles all administrative and organisational matters in the Parliament. Additionally, the vice-presidents preside over parliamentary debates in the president's absence.
Wilmès, of MR, was one of two candidates from her liberal group, Renew. While the group suffered heavy blows in the recent European elections, Wilmès did remarkably well in Belgium. She won a record 543,821 votes in the French-speaking constituency.
The candidates of the right-wing nationalist group ECR, the far-right Patriots for Europe and Europe of Sovereign Nations and the far-left group have not yet been elected. A second round of voting is due to take place at 18.00, with three vacancies for the Bureau still to be filled.
Sophie Wilmès © BELGA PHOTO ANTHONY DEHEZ
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