The European Parliament's Civil Liberties Committee has endorsed Andrés Ritter as the next European Chief Prosecutor. MEPs voted in favor of Ritter's appointment, with him receiving 52 votes for, 10 against, and 6 abstentions. Ritter, currently the Deputy European Chief Prosecutor, was the preferred candidate following a Q&A session in December 2025. Both Parliament and Council have expressed their preliminary preference for Ritter. The next step is a vote by the EP plenary in March 2026. The incumbent Chief Prosecutor, Laura Codruța Kövesi, will end her term in October 2026.