Spaniard Mr Josep Borrell became favourite to be the next head of the European Parliament when the EU legislature's Socialist group chose him today as its candidate for the assembly's presidency.
The full 732-member EU assembly will vote to choose the successor to Irishman Mr Pat Cox on July 20th in Strasbourg.
Mr Borrell was the latest in a string of high-profile nominations for Iberian politicians after EU leaders last week designated Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso as the next president of the executive European Commission and Spaniard Javier Solana as the bloc's future first foreign minister.
Mr Borrell (57), beat Briton Mr Terry Wynn by 117 to 66 votes for the Socialist nomination, virtually assuring him of becoming the next president of parliament if, as expected, his group seals an alliance with the dominant conservative European People's Party (EPP).
"It's an acknowledgement of the new role Spanish socialism is playing in Europe," he told reporters after the vote.
The Socialists, second-biggest group in the newly elected parliament, are set to sign a deal with the EPP tomorrow sharing out top posts over the five-year term.
Mr Borrell would serve for two-and-a-half years, followed by EPP leader Mr Hans-Gert Poettering.
.