Three Green MEPs Sought Vice-President Seat
The Greens/EFA group began selecting a candidate to fill a vacancy in the European Parliament leadership.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Elections
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Three members of the European Parliament are competing for a vacant vice-president position within the Greens/EFA parliamentary group. The seat opened following the election of Nicolae Ștefănuță as co-leader of the group.
Why it matters
Securing this leadership role is essential for the parliamentary group to maintain influence during the upcoming midterm leadership reshuffling. The chosen candidate must eventually participate in negotiations with larger centrist factions to confirm their position.
The Greens/EFA group comprises 53 members who recently elected a nine-member political bureau. Candidates must finalize their applications by next Monday before the group holds its internal vote.
The players
Hannah Neumann
She is a member of the European Parliament currently serving her second term.
Tilly Metz
She is a second-term MEP who founded the Parliament's mental health intergroup.
Damian Boeselager
He is an MEP who founded the European federalist movement known as Volt.
Nicolae Ștefănuță
He is the newly elected co-leader of the Greens/EFA parliamentary group who vacated his former vice-president role.
The details
Candidates Hannah Neumann, Tilly Metz, and Damian Boeselager are vying for the spot vacated by Nicolae Ștefănuță. The group is set to conduct a vote in Strasbourg to narrow the field to a single representative for future coalition bargaining.
Timeline
Wednesday, October 7, 2026: The Greens elected nine MEPs to the new political bureau.
Monday, October 19, 2026: The application period for vice-president candidates closes.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026: The Greens vote to select a single candidate in Strasbourg.
January 2027: Parliament midterms and the reshuffling of top leadership jobs occur.
Political Context
Opposing centrist or right-leaning factions may resist the influence of a Green vice-president during the January negotiations. This competition highlights the internal maneuvering required to maintain a seat at the table during the European Parliament midterms.
The outcome of this selection determines which priorities and legislative agendas the Green faction will champion within the Parliament. Citizens may see changes in committee leadership and policy influence depending on the strength of the grand bargain negotiated in January.
The takeaway
This process demonstrates the complex internal diplomacy required for smaller parliamentary groups to secure high-level roles. Interested observers should monitor the January midterm negotiations to see which cross-party coalitions emerge.
What happens next
The Greens/EFA group will hold an internal vote to select a single vice-president candidate on October 21, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on the legislative process, visit the Elections section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Euractiv DE.
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