European Union

Barroso wins second term as commission chief

Article published on the 2009-09-16 Latest update 2009-09-16 11:31 TU

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso
(Photo: Reuters)

Former Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Barroso has been given a second five-year term as president of the European Commission.

The European Parliament in Strasbourg voted 382 votes to 219 against, from among the 718 lawmakers taking part in the vote, in favour of extending Barroso’s tenure. There were 117 abstentions.

Barroso was not a universally popular candidate as he bore the brunt of the EU’s descent into the global financial crisis but no other candidate emerged to challenge him.

His candidacy had already been endorsed by the leaders of all 27 member states.

"As president of the commission, my party is going to be Europe," he told MEPs.

"Integration of Europe is needed to provide the necessary consensus for a united Europe... a stronger Europe of freedom and solidarity."

Barroso, who is the first Commission president to be re-elected since Jacques Delors who held office from 1985 to 1994, faces his first potential crisis on 2 October when Ireland votes for a second time in a referendum on the Lisbon Treaty.