Diana's bid for a top job in the European Parliament

8.59.56am GMT Tue 16th Jan 2007

Today, Tuesday 16th January, the European Parliament sees crucial elections that will bring significant changes to the leadership of the European Parliament and local Lib Dem Euro MP, Diana Wallis, is bidding for one of the top jobs.

MEPs will vote to elect a new President, 14 Vice-Presidents and 6 Quaestors (who handle administrative matters for Members). Diana Wallis, Liberal Democrat MEP for Yorkshire & the Humber, is bidding to become one of the Parliament's Vice-Presidents.

If successful, Diana Wallis will become the first Liberal Democrat and the first British female of any political persuasion to hold the post of Vice President.

Vice-Presidents sit on two important decision-making committees inside the Parliament. Together, with the President and Quaestors, they determine the political direction of the Parliament by setting the agenda, legislative planning and agreeing on the composition of committees.

Vice-Presidents also sit on the Bureau which deals with the administrative, financial and organisational running of the institution. They are similar to a Deputy Speaker at the House of Commons although the role is somewhat wider in Brussels.

Diana Wallis said in advance of the vote:

"It is a tremendous honour for me to be put forward by my political group (the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe) for one of the positions as Vice-President.

"It is a great opportunity to put Yorkshire and the Humber at the forefront of the work of the European Parliament."

Notes:

One current Vice President, Gérard Onesta of the Greens, says the post has "three dimensions, it implies the management of the institution (buildings, civil servants), running of the plenary (presiding) and finally a protocol role". The role of a Vice-President is to fill in for the President.

The tasks of the President include:

• Acting as "speaker" by chairing Parliamentary sessions.

• Ensuring rules of procedure are applied so that the Plenary sessions function properly.

• Chairing meetings of political group leaders and the Bureau.

• Representing the Parliament - visiting heads of state and government are received by the President.

• Presenting Parliament's viewpoint to EU leaders prior to European Council meetings.