WITH THE EPP-ED group winning the elections the post of parliament president will be fought over by former Polish prime minister Jerzy Buzek and Italian deputy Mario Mauro. Mauro is being pushed hard by Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi, but the smart money must be on Buzek, who is supported by most new member states.
The leader of the Socialist group, German MEP Martin Schultz, is tipped to share the role of parliament president with parliamentary tradition suggesting a compromise deal between the EPP-ED and Socialists. If this comes to pass Schultz and Buzek would split a five-year term.
Liberal group leader Graham Watson has also thrown his hat into the ring for the job but an EPP-ED/Socialist deal would scupper his chances.
Former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt will be another high- profile Liberal MEP elected to the parliament. He has his sights set on the plum job of European Commission president but his federalist leanings could prompt opposition from Britain.
The new parliament will see several glamorous women elected, including former French justice minister Rachida Dati, the first person of North African origin to be a minister in France. Her penchant for designer clothes and stilettos mesmerised the French media.
Elena Basescu, the 29-year- old daughter of Romanian president Traian Basescu, stood as an independent. The part-time model is better known in Romania for partying than politics but yesterday she was elected to the parliament with 4.22 per cent of the vote.
In Lithuania the 42-year-old former producer and host of Who wants to be a Millionaire, Arunas Valinskas, was elected as was, in Italy, the grandson of the last king, Emanuele Filiberto, for the UDC party.