Polish MEP wins European of the year prize

Polish MEP Bronislaw Geremek has won the Trombinoscope award for “European Personality of the year 2004”.

The veteran Polish politician and liberal member of the European Parliament took the prestigious prize after a vote by French press, radio and television journalists.

Geremek was cited for the award after contesting the parliament's presidency and challenging a deal between centre-right and Socialist MEPs.

EPP and PES political fixers – representing the parliament’s two biggest voting blocs – agreed to share the five-year presidency between them.

But despite representing a new EU country in the parliament, Geremek took 80 votes from centre-right and Socialist MEPs last July to come second place with 208 votes.

The founder of the ‘Solidarity’ trade union, was a popular contender and many MEPs regarded his challenge as a blow for democracy against a Brussels establishment.

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