News from Strasburg

Strasburg - Under established procedure, the oldest MEP is granted the job of inaugurating the European Parliament’s new sessions on 14 July, following European elections in June. Mr Jean-Marie Le Pen (photo), leader of the French National Front (FN) who turns 81 that month, would have won the job, assuming he was re-elected.

Wednesday, MEPs voted overwhelmingly to change that rule to prevent Le Pen from presiding over the assembly. Now it will fall to the outgoing assembly's president to chair the inaugural session.