Presentations by the candidates for election to the office of the President&nbsp;of the European Parliament, during the EP plenary session (16-19 January) in Strasbourg. The 6 persons running to the Presidency of the European Parliament are Antonio Tajani (EPP), Gianni Pittella (S&amp;D), Helga Stevens (ECR), Jean Lamberts (GUE), Eleonora Forenza (Greens), Laurentiu Rebega (ENF).

TAJANI, Antonio (EPP, IT)

Strasbourg

plenary session

STEVENS, Helga (ECR, BE)

PITTELLA, Gianni (S&D, IT)

LAMBERT, Jean (Greens/EFA, UK)

REBEGA, Laurenţiu (ECR, RO)

FORENZA, Eleonora (GUE/NGL, IT)

election of the President of the European Parliament (T)

Election of the President of the European Parliament: extracts from the presentations by the candidates for election to the office of the President

SOUNDBITE (Romanian), Lauren&#539;iu REBEGA (ENF, RO), We request more democracy and more transparency within the EP. We seek respect for the millions of citizens who voted for our candidates, we request respect for the rights of our MEP&rsquo;s in Committees and Delegations, and we request to stop the administrative harassment to which our political staff is submitted. If this is a democratic institution then why it is not allowed something very simple: to give a place into the first row to our group's President?

SOUNDBITE (English), Jean LAMBERT (Greens/EFA, UK), Parliament needs to change. The apparent ending of the grand coalition gives an opportunity to demonstrate that we can shift away from electing a usual suspect , and maybe even dare to elect a woman, from a smaller group, and if we are feeing really radical, from the UK. Difficult though I know that is for some of you.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Eleonora FORENZA (GUE/NGL, IT), Today all candidates are talking about the need to change, to end austerity policies. The grand coalition is dead, we hear, but actually, more than anything else it's remained orphan, because none of the three groups that it was made up of, or the outgoing presidents, are taking responsibility for it.

SOUNDBITE (English), Helga STEVENS (ECR, BE), (in sign language) I stand here with a clear purpose: to make sure that every voice matters in this Parliament, that every MEP , every one of you has equal power. There is an old saying 'a strong woman stands up for herself', a stronger woman stands up for everyone else. So my appeal to every single one of you in this chamber is this: don&rsquo;t vote for the candidate who wants to further their own agenda, vote for the candidate who wants to help you to deliver your agenda, and your citizens agenda.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Gianni PITTELLA (S&amp;D, IT), I&rsquo;m standing to be President of the EP because I want to see a braver Europe, a stronger Parliament given the major challenges that we face in the world. I want to see a Europe that isn&rsquo;t afraid of diversity, a Europe that encourages it. This Parliament needs to be a space where everyone can debate, and because of that, whatever the result of today&rsquo;s election, we will never again have a 'grand coalition', we will never going to have a privileged agreement between the major political groups.

SOUNDBITE (English), Antonio TAJANI (EPP, IT), I believe in Europe. But we need to change. We need a strong Parliament, and we need a good president, we need a good speaker, working for everybody.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), Antonio TAJANI (EPP, IT), I don&rsquo;t have a manifesto to present to the Parliament&rsquo;s presidency. Because the President of the Parliament can&rsquo;t have a personal manifesto. My manifesto is the programme decided by the EP, subsequent to the inter-institutional agreement with the Council and Commission. Applause. Fighting terrorism, dealing with the migration issue, fighting climate change, the digital agenda, energy policy, Brexit of course. We need to be very balanced here, we need to defend the rights of Europe, but think that in the future the UK will be an important partner of us.

SOUNDBITE (French), Antonio TAJANI (EPP, IT), Let me say clearly, that I will support all members and all political groups. Even if I don&rsquo;t share everything that Voltaire has said, but there is one thing that I do share: &lsquo;I don&rsquo;t agree with everything you&rsquo;ve said, but I will fight to the end for your right to say it&rsquo;, so I will stand for your freedom of speech, and that's valid for all members, for all political groups, because this is the cradle of democracy. If there is no democracy, then there is no freedom for our citizens. Freedom is the key for the EU, is the key to our civilisation, is the key to our history, and is the key for the future of the EU.