Former Presidents
Joao Soares (2008-2010)
currently serves as President Emeritus. He was first elected President of the Assembly in July 2008 at the Annual Session in Astana and re-elected to another one-year term at the 2009 Annual Session in Vilnius. Prior to that, he had served two years as Vice-President. Mr. Soares has been particularly active in OSCE PA election observation missions.
Mr. Soares was first elected to the Portuguese Parliament in 1987 and has also served as a Member of the European Parliament, including as a Member of the EP Bureau. From 1995 to 2002, Mr. Soares was Deputy Mayor and Mayor of Lisbon, during which time he also served as a Member of the State Council.
Goran Lennmarker (2006-2008)
was President of the Assembly from the 2006 Annual Session in Brussels until the 2008 Session in Astana. In addition to serving in numerous OSCE PA positions, including as Chair of the Assembly's First General Committee, and having led several election observation missions, Mr. Lennmarker has acted as the Assembly's Special Representative on the Nagorno Karabakh Conflict.
Mr. Lennmarker has been a Member of the Swedish Parliament since 1992 and serves as Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and on European Union Affairs. Formerly a member of the Swedish delegations to the European Union and the EFTA, he has also been a Delegate to the United Nations General Assembly, and served as adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sweden.
Alcee L. Hastings (2004-2006)
was elected President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly in July 2004 at the 13th Annual Session in Edinburgh, Scotland, and was re-elected at the 14th Annual Session in Washington, DC.
In the US Congress, where he has represented his native state of Florida since 1992, Congressman Hastings serves as Chairman of the US Helsinki Commission, is a senior member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and is a member of the House Rules Committee. As a Senior Democratic Whip, Mr. Hastings is an influential member of the Democratic leadership, and is Co-Chairman of the Florida Delegation.
Bruce George (2002-2004)
was elected President at the 2002 Berlin Annual Session. During his presidency Bruce George strongly emphasized the enhanced co-operation between the governmental and parliamentary dimensions of the OSCE, thus furthering the effectiveness of the Organization.
In addition he enhanced and further developed the relations with the Mediterranean and Asian Partners for Co-operation.
Adrian Severin (2000-2002)
A former Foreign Minister of Romania, Adrian Severin was elected President during the 2000 Bucharest Session and was the first President of the Assembly from the Central and Eastern European region.
He made a particular effort at reaffirming institutional dialogue within the OSCE to enhance the contribution of parliamentarians to OSCE's role in preventing local conflicts.
Helle Degn (1998-2000)
A Member of the Danish Parliament, Helle Degn was elected President of the Assembly during the 1998 Copenhagen Session.
She continued the work of her predecessors, significantly increasing the visibility of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly by visiting all OSCE Institutions and numerous field missions.
Javier Ruperez (1996-1998)
In 1996 Javier Ruperez, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Spanish Parliament, became President of the Assembly. He was the first President to participate in meetings of the Troika.
Frank Swaelen (1994-1996)
The President of the Belgian Senate Frank Swaelen, was elected President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly at the Vienna Session in 1994.
He was the first President to address an OSCE Summit and initiated the first series of bilateral Presidential visits, including visits to OSCE field missions.
Ilkka Suominen (1992-1994)
The first President of the Assembly was the Speaker of the Finnish Parliament, Ilkka Suominen, who was elected at the 1992 Budapest Session.
He led the first OSCE election monitoring delegation to Russia in 1993 and became the first President to address an OSCE Ministerial Meeting.