By Martin Banks - 9th July 2009
We need a radically different approach in future
Jo Leinen
Senior German MEP Jo Leinen has called for a "radical" change to the way in which the next president of parliament is chosen.
The widely-respected deputy said "there has to be change" when it comes to electing the president in five years' time.
Leinen said the "technical arrangement" which will again see the EPP and Socialists, the two biggest groups, share the post until 2014 is "unsatisfactory".
He said, "I agree that, generally speaking, it was probably the best way ahead this time because the EU needs stability right now.
"However, when it comes to electing the president next time I, and I think quite a lot of other people, would like to see a different way of doing things."
Leinen, who is tipped to become chairman of the influential environment committee in the new parliament, agreed that the current system, which sees the two biggest groups traditionally share the post and most important committee chairs, was open to criticism.
"I think we need a radically different approach in future and I will be pressing for that," he said.
"It has happened before when the Liberal deputy Pat Cox and Nicole Fontaine, from the EPP, shared the presidency so, yes, there is no reason why it should not happen again."
Meanwhile, ALDE have confirmed that Graham Watson agreed to withdraw from the race to become president after his group was offered the plum chairmanship of a new temporary committee on the economic crisis.
The post will be taken by German ALDE deputy Wolf Klinz with Watson taking the chairmanship of the China delegation.
This is likely to put Watson on a direct collision course with the Chinese as he has been a vocal critic of its stance towards Taiwan.
An ALDE insider said, "Some see it as unfortunate but Graham came under a lot of pressure to step aside in favour of the technical deal between the EPP and Socialists."
As part of the "trade off" it is believed British Liberals Andrew Duff or Sharon Bowles will be offered the chair of the key economic and monetary affairs committee.
Elsewhere, speculation is sweeping parliament on the distribution of committee chairs which will be decided in Strasbourg next week.
German EPP member Herbert Reul is said to be lined up for the industry and research committee while his compatriat Klaus-Heiner Lehne is though likely to get the justice and citizenship committee.
Italian centre-right deputy Mario Mauro, who this week dropped out of the race to become parliament's president, is thought likely to be offered the chairmanship of the foreign affairs committee while French EPP member Alain Lamassoure is expected to be offered the budget committee.
According to insiders, the internal market committee may go to British Tory deputy Malcolm Harbour.
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