Joseph Muscat’s backer becomes EP President

The German Socialist MEP who in 2008 openly backed Joseph Muscat to become Labour’s new leader was yesterday elected as the new President of the European Parliament (EP) for the next two and a half years.

As expected, Martin Schultz –who until yesterday occupied the post of leader of the Socialist Group in the EP – will be succeeding outgoing EP President Jerzy Buzek, following a political deal struck between the two largest political groups in the EP, the European People’s Party (EPP) and the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) to share the chamber’s ceremonial presidency during the five year legislature.

Mr Schultz, considered by many to be a divisive character due to his undiplomatic style, was elected during the first ballot among 640 MEPs yesterday in Strasbourg.

He obtained 387 votes, much more than his two opponents, Nirj Deva from the European Reformists and Conservatives (142 votes) and Diana Wallis from the Liberals (141 votes).

In his inaugural speech soon after his election, Mr Schultz promised to be “the President of all MEPs” and to keep the institution’s role high on the EU agenda.

“I want to help the EP raise its profile as a forum for democracy and informed, partisan debate about the future political course of the EU. We must do everything we can to make sure that our words carry more weight.”

Mr Schultz rose to fame in 2003 following a face-off with Italy’s then Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who called him a “nazi kapo”, in response to his harsh criticism on the internal business of the Italian government.

In Malta, Mr Schultz had also stirred up a fair share of trouble during Labour’s leadership campaign when, as head of the EP’s Socialist MEPs, he flew to Malta to endorse Joseph Muscat’s candidacy – then an MEP.

Mr Schultz’s “foreign interference” had infuriated the other PL leadership ­contestants, who also criticised Mr Muscat’s ploy.

In a letter sent to the leadership of the Party of European Socialists, Evarist Bartolo, George Abela, Michael Falzon and Marie Louise Coleiro had censured Mr Schultz’s actions and described them as “deeply offensive, totally irregular and highly unethical”.

Mr Schultz’s term at the helm of the EP will come to an end in June 2014 when new MEP elections are held across the EU.