Tribute To President Buzek
Strasbourg, 17 January, 2012
This week, which marks the halfway point of the 5 year cycle of this legislature (2009 - 2014), the European Parliament held votes for the honorary positions, such as its President, vice-Presidents and Quaestors.
It therefore heralded the end of Jerzy Buzek's two and a half year term as President of the Chamber.
His tenure has been a success, and he can be proud of the work he has done. Being President of the European Parliament is as much a symbolic role as one which confers power. He has managed to carry off the difficult balancing act of leading for all and also pushing certain personal causes with distinction. I wish him well in the future.
Buzek was replaced by S&D's Martin Schultz, although I must give credit to my colleague Nirj Deva MEP, who stood against him. In a three-way election (ALDE and Yorkshire's Diana Wallis MEP also ran) Nirj was tremendously effective in raising the issues of transparency and efficiency which the ECR champions - he came second. In the end, the behind-closed-doors deal made by the EPP and S&D proved decisive.
I am pleased that I was able to retain the trust of my ECR colleagues on LIBE and I retained my Coordinatorship of that Committee. I hope that we can go from strength to strength as I welcome my new colleague Anthea McIntyre MEP, who I am sure will prove an invaluable asset to us in the Justice and Home Affairs field.
