MEPs are today expected to elect a new president for the second half of the legislature during their first plenary session of the year in Strasbourg.

The European People’s Party’s Jerzy Buzek, who has steered the European Parliament since mid-2009, will relinquish his post.

His mostly ceremonial post will be taken by one of three candidates contesting today’s election: Martin Schultz, the leader of the Socialist Group, Diana Wallis, a senior MEP from the Liberal group or Nijr Deva, from the anti-federalist ECR Group. EP sources told The Times that Germany’s Mr Schultz – considered to be a divisive figure – is almost certain to be elected following an unofficial agreement between the EPP and the Socialists at the start of the legislature to share the chamber’s top post.

Mr Schultz’s rise to fame started following an incident with former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi who called the German MEP a “Nazi kapo” following derogatory remarks in his regard on the way he was leading the Italian government. After these comments, Mr Schultz was elected leader of the Socialist Group in the EP.