Polish Jerzy Buzek elected President of the European Parliament

In the European Parliament, July 14 is not really a holiday. On the contrary, yesterday was the effervescence of the great days. A bit like at school, satchel under the
arms, practical recommendations of the old in the pocket or in the spirit, the some 370 "newbies" MEPs have made their comeback.

An election without suspense

Like Finland's Riikka Manner, 27, a little "stressed" by this new five-year life that is opening up, everyone signed the attendance sheet for the first time, completed the
final formalities and received the keys to his office before entering the Hemicycle. This first day was devoted to setting up the structures of Parliament. Starting with the
appointment of its chairman.

There was no suspense. The main parties - EPP Christian Democrats, Socialists and Liberals - had concluded a "technical agreement" to support the candidacy of Pole Jerzy
Buzek of the Civic Platform (PO/PPE), for the first two and a half years of his mandate. With 555 votes out of 713 voters, he obtained a large absolute majority without firing a shot. Didn't miss him
that the voices of the Communists who had presented their candidate, of certain European Greens and... of the French Socialists who thus chose to show their bad humor against an agreement
called unnatural.

“It's a great symbolic day for our ten countries in Eastern Europe, explained Jerzy Buzek just after his appointment. There is no longer you and us, but a shared Europe”. And quote the
French triptych "Liberty, equality, fraternity: words that resonate in the hearts of Europeans as well". Very cautious, even too much, the former Solidarnosc activist was however disappointed during his
first press conference, avoiding all the difficult questions, such as enlargement, the seat of Strasbourg... Too bad.

The French should obtain the presidency of three or four parliamentary committees: Pervenche Bérès (PS), a close associate of Fabius in Employment and Social Affairs; Alain Lamassoure (UMP) at
Budget; the elected green Eva Joly, at the head of the “Development” Commission and Arnaud Danjean (UMP), a former intelligence officer, at the “Defence and Security” sub-commission.

(published in Ouest-France, July 15, 2009)