Italy’s Tajani wins support to head European Parliament

Strasbourg (France) (AFP) – Italy’s Antonio Tajani was a step closer to becoming the new head of the European Parliament Tuesday after winning the backing of the assembly’s fourth-biggest group.

The head of the parliament’s Liberal group, former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt, pulled out of the race and threw his support behind Tajani in what he described as a “pro-European coalition.”

Tajani, a former spokesman for Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi and ex-European commissioner, comes from the centre-right EPP grouping, the largest in the 751-seat parliament.

MEPs are voting on Tuesday to replace Germany’s Martin Schulz, who during five years in office made the role far more powerful and prominent than it had ever been before.

Both the EPP and the Liberal ALDE group are backing Tajani, they said in a joint statement after Schulz formally announced Verhofstadt’s withdrawal from the contest.

“This is a first important step in the construction of a pro-European coalition to reform and strengthen our union, which is absolutely necessary,” Verhofstadt said.

“With Trump, with Putin, with many other challenges Europe faces, it is key we cooperate to reform our union,” he added.

US President-elect Donald Trump backed Britain’s shock vote to leave the European Union and said he expected other EU countries to follow suit.

He has also expressed admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who many in the 28-nation bloc perceive as a threat to European security.

Verhofstadt said the coalition is open to all pro-European groups and aimed at changing the EU’s direction.

The coalition agreement struck between the two groups calls for a European defence force at a time when Trump has cast doubt on the future of the US-led NATO alliance.

It also calls for a study into whether a European intelligence and investigation capacity is necessary to fight terrorism and international crime.

The other main candidate is socialist Gianni Pittella, another Italian. Five other candidates are seen as having little chance.

The 751 members of the parliament will cast secret ballots in Strasbourg, France. The vote can go to a maximum of four rounds.

Schulz is returning to domestic German politics.