Zīle is the only Baltic MEP elected to the post so far. He was first elected Vice-President of the EP in January 2022. Zīle represents the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR Group).
"I am pleased and grateful for the renewed confidence and thus appreciation of the work done by MEPs," said Zīle.
The EP has a total of 14 Vice-Presidents. Their duties include chairing plenary sittings, replacing the EP President, and they are also members of the EP Bureau. This parliamentary unit is responsible for preparing the preliminary draft budget of the EP and for handling all administrative, staff and organizational matters.
This time, 11 of the 14 vice-presidents were elected in the first ballot, but Zīle was not among them. However, in the second ballot, he managed to get the required number of votes.
The 66-year-old economist Zīle has been one of the leaders of the National Alliance for many years, serving as both finance and transport minister. He has been an MEP since 2004, during which time Zīle has won the support of Latvian voters five times.
