The newly-elected European Parliament is holding its first session this week, with MEPs vying for political influence. Half are novices in the Strasbourg assembly, the rest have been re-elected.
The BBC’s Dominic Hughes is keeping a diary as he rubs shoulders with MEPs, gauging the mood as they settle in and forge new alliances. You can send in your comments using the form at the bottom.
Tuesday, 1225 French time
As expected the former Polish PM Jerzy Buzek has been elected as the new President of the European Parliament. He scored an overwhelming win – 555 vots to just 89 for the only other candidate, Eva-Britt Svensson from Sweden.
His election is interesting not least because it reflects the growing power of the new member states from Central and Eastern Europe in the EU. And Mr Buzek made reference to that in his acceptance speech, talking about the long journey Poland had taken to emerge from behind the Iron Curtain as a key player in the EU. It’s pretty amazing really.
I remember a conversation with my Dad in the mid-1980s when I asked him if he ever thought the Iron Curtain would fall. "Not in my lifetime," he said. It’s his birthday on Thursday and he’ll be 76. Just goes to show that even dads get it wrong sometimes.
Tuesday, 1120 French time
So the first session of this new Parliament has begun amid pretty chaotic scenes. To start with, journalists had to queue for ages in pouring rain at the press entrance to the Parliament as loads of people were waiting for temporary accreditation – part-timers! The BBC News Channel was waiting, so I flashed my badge and barged in I’m afraid.
Meanwhile outside the Parliament chamber hordes of camera crews and snappers were jostling for position as the new MEPs entered what’s known as the hemicycle, trying to get a shot as the members trooped in to vote for a new president. A few well-known faces appeared – Jose Bove for example, the French farmer who became the poster boy for the anti-globalisation movement and is now a freshly-minted MEP.
The first round of voting is now under way as I type, but everyone knows the former Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek will emerge as the winner. How democratic is that
We’re also waiting to see what will happen with the British National Party. I’d be amazed if there was not some kind of statement or demonstration by a British MEP objecting to their presence in the chamber.
Here’s some unverified gossip: During preliminary meetings in Brussels over the past few weeks the BNP were given the cold shoulder in the canteens and cafes. And every time the BNP’s Nick Griffin tried to speak his microphone mysteriously went dead so he could never be heard. If it’s true, is this the right way to treat someone who is after all a democratically elected representative
Monday, 1830 French time
So here we are for a (shortish) week at the Strasbourg seat of the European Parliament to mark the first sitting of the new session. It’s a good five-hour drive here from my usual base in Brussels (don’t get me started on the insanity of the Parliament’s two seats in Strasbourg and Brussels) and over the past two years my cameraman colleague Patrice and I have developed a tradition of stopping for a hearty lunch of meatballs and chips at the Ikea on the Belgium-Luxembourg border. I then fall fast asleep to leave Patrice to drive on, accompanied by the sound of some light snoring.
But now I’m here there’s plenty to get my teeth into. All 736 MEPs elected last month need to be sworn in; chairmen and members of the various parliamentary committees – where most of the real work is done – need to be agreed; and a new President of the European Parliament needs to be elected. I use "elected" in the broadest sense of the word in that it’s almost certainly going to be the former conservative prime minister of Poland Jerzy Buzek who will assume the parliament’s top job, in a stitch-up between the centre-right group, the European People’s Party (the biggest in the parliament), and the centre-left group, the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats. The latter will probably have one of their own take over the role half-way through the five-year life of this Parliament.
Plus, a new force makes its debut this week – the European Conservatives and Reformists Group gets its first outing, following the British Tories’ withdrawal from the EPP. Quite how influential they will be depends on how many committee seats and chairmanships they pick up this week.
And of course there is the small matter of the arrival of two newly-elected British MEPs from the British National Party. How will the generally liberal establishment here in Strasbourg deal with a party that many regard as racist How should they respond – engage and challenge or isolate and ignore What do you think I’ll be adding diary entries across the week and I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Your comments:
I hope our esteemed Euroleaders are reminded how much we hate their dictatorial tendencies whenever they see their two new colleagues. I do not personally think voting in wannabe dictators is a good way to do it though. I never thought I would see the day when the BNP got someone beyond councillor status. Tony Sweeting, Leicester, UK
Un-democratic body! This statement doesn’t add up! Why do we have Euro Elections The European Parliament does represent the voters’ wishes, better than in the UK where they still use the first past the post system.
foxyeric, brussels, belgium
I wonder how this new-look EU Parliament will handle another rejection of the Lisbon (Constitution) Treaty by the Irish electorate this coming October
How will it reconcile its dictatorial aspirations with the blatant democracy emanating from Ireland
The Constitution (Lisbon) Treaty is all about destroying democracy and the Irish really are now becoming just more than an embarrassment; they are an unwelcome hindrance.
Micheal Breathnach, Galway, Ireland
Why does no-one comment on the fact that the European elections have reflected the Eurosceptic feelings that most people in the UK (and other Euro countries) have
The only comments we get about the BNP and UKIP is that they are racial votes. Yet in most countries only the smaller parties reflect the scepticism that Europeans feel towards this nonsense and un-democratic body that makes its representatives waste money by moving from Brussels to Strasbourg etc.
Marijke Bevan, Tunbridge Wells, U.K.
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