Italian and Polish MEPs seek parliament presidency
A deal between the European People’s Party and the Socialists to split the important post between them was in disarray after the left wing group suffered heavy losses in the European elections, leaving the centre-right EPP the clear winners.
But within that group, a row has broken out over who their candidate should be, with an Italian MEP battling against a Pole.
Party leaders were in discussions yesterday with fellow party member, Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi, to convince him to withdraw the nomination of MEP, Mario Mauro.
Mr Mauro, a history teacher, is known as “Catholic” Mauro for his very conservative views.
He has spoken out against gays, decrying a motion criticising homophobia.
He was criticised by human rights organisations for supporting Italian efforts to round up Roma and supporting plans to fingerprint Roma gypsies.
The leaders were also in discussions with Polish prime minister Donald Tusk who is supporting his countryman and former prime minister, Jerzy Bizek.
Mr Bizek is favourite to get the post and is being pushed by other central and eastern European countries.
A Protestant and former member of anti-communist group Solidarity, he is well respected and has the support of German MEPs, the strongest group in the EPP.
Whoever gets the job is likely to hold it for just the first two and a half years of the five-year term. Liberal leader Graham Watson said yesterday he hoped to form a coalition with the EPP and follow in the footsteps of fellow party member Pat Cox and become president for the second half of the parliament’s mandate.
However, the two groups would not have an absolute majority between them and are considering joining with the Greens who did well in the elections, gaining more than 50 seats. Their leader Daniel Cohen-Bendit said he believes such a coalition could happen.
But the EPP might prefer to join up with a new group being formed by the British Conservatives rather than the left-leaning Greens. A spokesperson for the Tories said they hope to announce their group later this week.
It will include the Czech government party, ODS and the Polish Law and Justice party, but they need MEPs from another four countries to qualify as a group.
As well as president, there are other important jobs to be decided. The EPP is pushing for another party member, commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso, to retain his job for a second term.
Should the Lisbon Treaty come into force, an EU president will be appointed and the Liberals would hope one of their members would be considered for this.
There will also be the role of foreign relations chief, an important position under the Lisbon Treaty held by a commissioner nominated by a member state and sitting in both the commission and the council that represents the member states.
