Election of the President of the European Parliament

At the sitting of 16 January 2007, Hans-Gert POETTERING (EPP-ED, DE) was elected President of the European Parliament. Below is an extract from the minutes of the sitting:

Giovanni Berlinguer read out the results of the vote:

- Members voting:                                715

- Blank or void:                                      26

- Votes cast:                                       689

- Absolute majority:                              345

The outcome was as follows:

- Jens-Peter Bonde:                               46 votes

- Francis Wurtz:                                     48 votes

- Monica Frassoni:                                145 votes

- Hans-Gert Poettering:                          450 votes.

Hans-Gert Poettering had obtained an absolute majority of the votes cast. Giovanni Berlinguer proclaimed him President of the European Parliament and congratulated him on his election.