Guy Verhofstadt, a former Belgian prime minister and elected to the European Parliament in June as head of the list of the Open VLD liberal party, was today elected president of the ALDE group in the Parliament.
ALDE says he was elected by acclamation – that is, unopposed. He paid tribute to Graham Watson, the outgoing leader, for his seven years in the post. His speech was greeted with a standing ovation.
Verhofstadt has been canvassed as a possible alternative to José Manuel Barroso as European Commission president, but Barroso's endorsement by all 27 member states at the recent EU summit have reduced those possibilities significantly.
He may well, however, be in line for one of the other senior EU posts that will become available if and when the Lisbon treaty comes into force next year.
Meanwhile, Watson continues his campaign to be elected president of the Parliament.
