Farmer elected to head EPP-ED group in European Parliament

The European People's Party, the largest political group in the European Parliament, has elected French MEP Joseph Daul, a farmer by profession, as its leader for the next two and a half years.

Mr Daul received the support of the majority of the 277-strong EPP group, although his main rival, Swedish MEP Gunnar Hokmar, was only 19 votes behind.

Mr Daul succeeds German MEP Hans Gert Pottering who next week is expected to be elected president of the European Parliament following a deal struck between the EPP and the Socialist group at the beginning of the current legislature to share the presidency.

The election of the French MEP to head the EPP-ED group is also shrouded in controversy as observers commented that the German and French MEPs in the group had agreed to support each other.

Addressing his first press conference as EPP president yesterday in Brussels, Mr Dual, an MEP since 1999, admitted there were some serious divisions within his group that need addressing.

Describing himself as both an optimist and a realist, Mr Daul said his first priority is to ensure that the man he replaces is elected European Parliament president in Strasbourg next Tuesday.

He said he favoured more of a privileged partnership for Turkey rather than membership of the EU.

A major work programme facing the EPP over the next couple of years includes the reviving of the stalled EU Constitution, he added.

Though able to speak German fluently, Mr Daul speaks very little English but has said he has already started taking English lessons.

The Nationalist Party, which is represented within the EPP by MEPs Simon Busuttil and David Casa, yesterday welcomed Mr Daul's election.