Understanding the d'Hondt method: Allocation of parliamentary seats and leadership positions

The d'Hondt method is used within the Parliament as a formula for distributing the chairs of the parliamentary committees and delegations, as well as to distribute those posts among the national delegations within the political groups. Such proportional distribution of leadership positions within Parliament prevents domination of parliamentary political life by only one or two large political groups, ensuring smaller political groups also have a say on the political agenda. Some argue however that this limits the impact of the election results on the political direction of decision-making within Parliament and call for a 'winner-takes-all' approach instead.
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2016)580901

Source: © European Union - EP