Antonio Tajani elected President of the European Parliament

Antonio Tajani

The European People’s Party’s Antonio Tajani has replaced Socialist Martin Schulz as the European Parliament president, after winning 351 votes in the fourth and final round of ballots. Gianni Pittella, his Socialist rival, won 282 votes in the run-off.

Antonio Tajani is the new (born 4 August 1953 in Rome) is an Italian politician and now President of the European Parliament. 

The EP (European Parliament) is elected for five years, but the term of office for President, Vice-Presidents, Quaestors and committee Chairs is two-and-a-half years. So the elections are held at the beginning of a parliamentary term and at mid-term.

The election is done using a secret ballot. MEPs mark their preferred candidate on a ballot paper and place the vote in a ballot box, overseen by eight tellers chosen from among MEPs.

A candidate getting an absolute majority of the votes cast (50% + 1) is elected. Blank or spoiled ballot papers are not counted.

If there is no winner after the first ballot, the same candidates or new candidates can be nominated for a second round of voting under the same conditions.  This can be repeated a third time if necessary.

If no-one is elected at the third ballot, the two highest scoring candidates go to a fourth ballot, where the winner is decided by simple majority. If there is a tie, the older candidate is declared the winner