Josep Borrell, Spain, has been elected president of the European Parliament this 20 July 2004.
The former leader of the Spanish Socialist party was elected leader of the Parliament after a power-sharing deal between the two largest political groups at the European Parliament, the European People's Party (EPP, center-right) and the European Socialist Party (ESP, center-left).
Under the terms of the deal, Josep Borrell will only serve the first half of his mandate (2.5 years) before stepping down in favour of the EPP candidate, Hans-Gert Poettering, of Germany.
The post-enlargement European Parliament President is made of 732 MEPS. Its new leader was elected with 388 votes, while his nearer rival, Polish Bronislaw Geremek, won 208 votes.
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