Secret ballot and backroom deals to elect next EU Parliament chief / Schulz elected EP president again, promises to fight for more powers

The President of the European Parliament was elected by secret ballot on the 1 July 2014 as the first activity of the new European Parliament 2014-2019 following the May 2014 elections.

Martin Schulz was elected European Parliament president, becoming the first ever to hold the post for two consecutive terms.

The German Socialist was elected in the first round, getting 409 of the 621 valid votes cast. He beat three other contenders for the job. British Conservative Sajjad Karim received 101 votes, while the leftist Pablo Iglesias from Spain and Green Austrian MEP Ulrike Lunacek both managed 51 votes each.

Schulz's election was widely expected after he supported rival Jean-Claude Juncker for the post of European Commission president. However, the UK Independence Party and France’s Front National staged protests at the opening of the session which elected him.

Also on the 1 July 2014 14 European Parliament Vice-Presidents were elected in three rounds of voting.

ESO: Background information: Towards a new European Parliament [2014 - 2019] http://www.europeansources.info/record/towards-a-new-european-parliament-2014-2019/

EUObserver, 01.07.14: Schulz elected EP president again, promises to fight for more powers http://euobserver.com/news/124824

BBC News, 01.07.14: German Socialist Schulz elected to lead MEPs again http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28105089

ESO: Background information: European Parliament: Election, May 2014 http://www.europeansources.info/record/european-parliament-election-may-2014/

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 01.07.14: Martin Schulz re-elected President of the European Parliament http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140630IPR51020/

European Parliament: Newsroom: Press Release, 01.07.14: Fourteen Vice-Presidents of the European Parliament elected http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140630IPR51011/

European Parliament: Newsroom: Background Notes, 26.06.14: Election of new EP President, 14 Vice-Presidents and five Quaestors http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/news-room/content/20140625BKG50503/

Deutsche Welle, 01.07.14: Martin Schulz re-elected European Parliament president http://dw.de/p/1CTJj

ESO: Background information: EU leaders give thumbs up to Juncker, Britain isolated / Juncker: The veteran EU insider loathed by Britain [The next European Commission President] http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-leaders-give-thumbs-up-to-juncker-britain-isolated-juncker-the-veteran-eu-insider-loathed-by-britain-the-next-european-commission-president/

EUObserver, 01.07.14: Schulz: King of Parliament (and backroom deals) http://euobserver.com/eu-elections/124828

EurActiv, 01.07.14: UKIP and National Front stage EU Parliament protests http://www.euractiv.com/sections/eu-elections-2014/ukip-and-national-front-stage-eu-parliament-protests-303206

BBC News, 02.07.14: British Eurosceptics trade accusations with other MEPs http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28124320

Euronews, 01.07.14: EU job horse trading returns Schulz to EP presidency http://www.euronews.com/2014/07/01/eu-job-horse-trading-returns-schulz-to-ep-presidency/

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