Berlusconi ally poised to become next European parliament chief
ITALY - An ally of the former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi is on course to become the next president of the European parliament after a deal was struck between two of the institution’s largest political groups.
Antonio Tajani, who has been elected as an MEP four times and is currently a vice-president of the European parliament, is poised to take the top job, following a pact between his centre-right group and the liberals, led by Brexit negotiator Guy Verhofstadt. The parliament’s 751 MEPs are voting yesterday in Strasbourg to elect their new leader. The combined weight of Tajani’s centre-right European People’s party and Verhofstadt’s liberals – the first and fourth largest groups respectively – makes it unlikely a rival candidate will prevail. Tajani, a former spokesman for Berlusconi who went on to serve as Italy’s European commissioner for two successive mandates, is a familiar face in EU politics. During the VW emissions scandal he was accused of not carrying out his responsibilities as EU industry commissioner. Tajani has always insisted he knew nothing about problems with car emissions tests, despite warnings from colleagues (paywall) at the European commission.
The way was cleared for Tajani after Verhofstadt made clear he was pulling out of the race on Tuesday morning. The liberals agreed to support Tajani in exchange for an agreement to create a “reflection group” on the future of the EU, as well as a new committee on EU police cooperation. The agreement also secures the position of Verhofstadt as the parliament’s Brexit representative. The European parliament must approve the final Brexit deal and MEPs from both groups are anxious to ensure they are involved from the start of negotiations, after Theresa May triggers article 50. The deal is a boost for Verhofstadt, who last week suffered a blow after his liberal colleagues failed to back his plan to join forces with Beppe Grillo’s populist Five Star Movement. The liberal leader described the deal as “a first important step in the construction of a pro-European coalition to reform and strengthen our union, which is absolutely necessary.”
(Theguardian.com)