Euro MPs elect German as speaker

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) elected Hans-Gert Poettering to be the new European Parliament President, 16 January 2007, with 450 votes in favour (or 65.31% of the valid votes). He was elected after the first-round of voting. The 61 year old German Christian-Democrat will lead the European Parliament for two and a half years until the next European elections in June 2009.

• Primary Source

European Parliament: Info, 16.1.07: Hans-Gert Poettering elected President of the European Parliament http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-1954-015-01-03-901-20070115IPR01953-15-01-2007-2007-true/default_en.htm

European Parliament: Info, 16.1.07: 14 Vice-Presidents elected and ranked http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-1932-015-01-03-901-20070112IPR01907-15-01-2007-2007-false/default_en.htm

European Parliament: Info, 16.1.07: Six Quaestors elected and ranked http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/008-1933-015-01-03-901-20070112IPR01908-15-01-2007-2007-false/default_en.htm

---