Schulz elected EP President
German Socialist Martin Schulz has been elected President of the European Parliament.
Mr Schulz, who obtained 387 of the 670 votes, will lead the EP until the next European elections in June 2014.
He is replacing the European People’s Party’s Jerzy Buzek, who has steered the European Parliament since mid-2009.
Mr Schulz had supported Joseph Muscat in the election for PL leadership.
He had said: "The Malta Labour Party has a chance of being led by a man who has gained very important experience in European institutions and how to represent the specific interests of Malta, the smallest EU member state and, in doing so, influenced the Socialist Group."
A former librarian with a fiery temperament, Mr Schulz made his name in an altercation with Silvio Berlusconi.
The then Italian premier sparked a diplomatic spat between Rome and Berlin in 2003 when he said during a parliament debate that Schulz would be perfect in the film role of a "kapo", a prisoner who worked for the Nazis in concentration camps.
The bearded, bespectacled German politician had vexed the boisterous billionaire by raising questions over alleged conflicts of interest between Berlusconi's political role and his media empire.
Unknown in Europe and even in his home country before his run-in with Berlusconi, Schulz took the helm of the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) bloc in the European Parliament a year later.
He can express himself in French and English with ease, an asset in a 27-nation assembly of 736 lawmakers.
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Joseph Scicluna
Jan 18th, 07:22
Schulz keep your hands off Malta and don't interfere with our internal affairs.
George Azzopardi
Jan 17th, 13:55
I'm so surprised to view so many PN bloggers who are actually turning against EU leadership now ... just because this person is not part of the clique ... disgusting!!!
Mr Joseph Vella
Jan 17th, 13:12
This was predicted. It's definitely an 'informal' agreement between the two major blocs in the EP. Neither Bruzek nor Shulz will be of any help to recover the EU economy I'm afraid. These people want More Europe, we need Better Europe. Federalism is not an option
John Zammit
Jan 17th, 12:48
Whether he is German or not The PRESIDENT of the EU parliament had To look after the interest of all the EU people Not Just the Germans
MALCOLM SEYCHELL
Jan 17th, 12:17
Germans are very valid and intelligent people. However Schulz is not one of them. He will be the one who will make Europe collapse.
Andreas Moser
Jan 17th, 11:59
Are we Germans taking over everything in Europe?
Martin Webster
Jan 17th, 12:10
Everything except the debt obligations of your European comrades, it appears.
Mr Joseph Vella
Jan 17th, 13:14
Couldn't have said it better Mr. Webster. We're like a small state in the US being a victim of the California Effect.
S Micallef
Jan 17th, 13:20
@ Martin Webster
Your comment should be made comment of the week :)
Charles W. Sammut
Jan 17th, 11:57
Mr Schultz is the man who, after Ireland rejected the Lisbon Treaty referendum, insisted that the referendum be held again and again until the Irish "Got it right".
Such are the democratic credentials of the EUSSR. Berlusconi is being proven right in his description of Martin Schultz.
Charles W. Sammut
Jan 17th, 11:42
Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party is going to have a field day laying into this leftist. Get the popcorn.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMZbs6zu5PU
M Farrugia
Jan 17th, 11:21
Issa se tmur il-quddiem l-ewropa b'Schultz President. Nahseb li gie elett fi zmien hazin hafna. Kulhadd jaf id-disastru li hemm f'certa stati membri fejn hemm il-partit socjalista imexxi.
P Buħaġiar
Jan 17th, 12:05
Mela daqsehekk għandekk memorja ħażina Ħabieb, ma tafx min kien qiegħed immexxi il Greċja, Spanja u li-Italja qabel meta sar id-dejn? Nies bħalek qed tnaffru nies li iħobbu L-ONESTA. Il-Partit Nazzjonalista DEMO-KRISTJANI li xi darba kont nirrispetta ħafna, bdiltuh fil-Partit Nazzjonalista DEMONJATI bil nuqqas ta VERITAJIET u stejjer ta Gideb min nies ta' ġewwa stess u ġieli fuq nies Nazzjonalisti stess. Id-divorzju kompla kisser il-familja Nazzjonalista u il Partit għandu jibdel ismu, għax mhux sewwa nibqaw ninqdew bil-LOGO ta KRISTJANI. ALLA ma iħallass kull nhar ta' SIBT kienu jgħidu Missirijietna.
Mr Joe Micallef
Jan 17th, 11:21
"Mr Schulz had supported Joseph Muscat in the election for PL leadership"
That should go down in the annals of disgusting behaviour of (small) political leaders.
George Azzopardi
Jan 17th, 10:58
Big advantage to Joseph Muscat's PL. Remember that Mr Schultz come to Malta in person to support Joseph during the PL leadership campaign.