The European Parliament is set to elect its new president, and former Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek has already won backing from the powerful conservative and social democrat parliamentary groups for the post. The election of the new president is to be among the parliament's first tasks as it begins its own new five-year term in Strasbourg. The liberal-conservative Buzek, who has been a member of European parliament for five years and sits on the committee for industry, research and energy, would be the parliament's first president from the former-communist east. His election is believed to be now just a formality. The move is said to reflect the growing influence of the EU's new member states from Central and Eastern Europe.
The election of the new president is to be among the parliament's first tasks as it begins its own new five-year term in Strasbourg.
The liberal-conservative Buzek, who has been a member of European parliament for five years and sits on the committee for industry, research and energy, would be the parliament's first president from the former-communist east. His election is believed to be now just a formality.
The move is said to reflect the growing influence of the EU's new member states from Central and Eastern Europe.
