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European Commission Gets New Leader European Commission Elects a New Leader
(about 5 hours later)
BRUSSELS — Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg was elected on Tuesday to lead the most powerful agency of the European Union after overcoming fierce opposition from Britain and some lawmakers in the European Parliament. BRUSSELS — Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg was elected Tuesday to lead the most powerful agency of the European Union after overcoming fierce opposition from Britain and some lawmakers in the European Parliament.
The Parliament, meeting in Strasbourg, France, voted by a clear majority to make Mr. Juncker the president of the European Commission, a vast bureaucracy based in Brussels that is responsible for proposing legislation in a wide range of areas, including from auto emissions and bankers’ salaries. Parliament, meeting in Strasbourg, France, voted by a clear majority to make Mr. Juncker the president of the European Commission, a vast bureaucracy based in Brussels that is responsible for proposing legislation in a wide range of areas, including auto emissions and bankers’ salaries.
After an at-times rancorous debate, Parliament voted in favor of Mr. Juncker by 422 to 250 votes, with 47 abstentions. Mr. Juncker needed a minimum of 376 votes to be elected.After an at-times rancorous debate, Parliament voted in favor of Mr. Juncker by 422 to 250 votes, with 47 abstentions. Mr. Juncker needed a minimum of 376 votes to be elected.
Mr. Juncker faces a daunting task amid criticism that the European Union and its sprawling bureaucracy have grown too powerful and out of touch with the concerns of common citizens.Mr. Juncker faces a daunting task amid criticism that the European Union and its sprawling bureaucracy have grown too powerful and out of touch with the concerns of common citizens.
A six-year debt crisis has created huge levels of unemployment in countries like Greece and Spain and weakened growth prospects for much of the rest of the bloc, making union leaders look helpless amid the near collapse of the euro. That legacy helped record numbers of antiunion lawmakers win seats in Parliament during elections in May. A six-year debt crisis has created huge levels of unemployment in countries like Greece and Spain and weakened growth prospects for much of the rest of the bloc, making union leaders look helpless amid the near collapse of the euro. That legacy helped record numbers of antiunion lawmakers win seats in Parliament in May.
In a speech ahead of the vote, Mr. Juncker, a former prime minister of Luxembourg and a former head of the group of ministers overseeing the euro, insisted that there still was “room for a dream” in Europe and urged citizens “to fall in love again” with Europe. In a speech before the vote, Mr. Juncker, a former prime minister of Luxembourg and a former head of the group of ministers overseeing the euro, insisted that there was still “room for a dream” in Europe and urged citizens “to fall in love again” with Europe.
Mr. Juncker vigorously defended the euro as a tool that had made damagingly competitive currency devaluations a thing of the past and said Europe should derive strength from overcoming a near catastrophe. “We were trying to repair a plane that was on fire while it was in the air” and “that wasn’t easy,” Mr. Juncker said. Mr. Juncker vigorously defended the euro as a tool that had made damagingly competitive currency devaluations a thing of the past and said that Europe should derive strength from overcoming a near catastrophe. He was shouted down by at least one British lawmaker, who called his comments “rubbish.”
He was shouted down by at least one British lawmaker, who called Mr. Juncker’s comments “rubbish.”
Nigel Farage, the head of the United Kingdom Independence Party, warned Mr. Juncker against forming a European “superstate,” while Marine Le Pen, the president of the far-right National Front in France, accused Mr. Juncker of helping turn Luxembourg into a tax haven.Nigel Farage, the head of the United Kingdom Independence Party, warned Mr. Juncker against forming a European “superstate,” while Marine Le Pen, the president of the far-right National Front in France, accused Mr. Juncker of helping turn Luxembourg into a tax haven.
“You are the archetype of those who deny democracy,” Ms. Le Pen said to Mr. Juncker, who she said remained unknown to too many European voters. Mr. Juncker shot back at Ms. Le Pen, saying he did not want the vote of someone who stood for “exclusion and rejection.”
As the session turned rowdier, the president of Parliament, Martin Schulz, ordered the eviction of Konstantinos Papadakis of the Communist Party of Greece for speaking out of turn.
Mr. Juncker is scheduled to take over from his predecessor, José Manuel Barroso, at the start of November. But the precise timing of the handover will depend on whether Parliament endorses the rest of his team, which consists of 27 other commissioners, yet to be selected.Mr. Juncker is scheduled to take over from his predecessor, José Manuel Barroso, at the start of November. But the precise timing of the handover will depend on whether Parliament endorses the rest of his team, which consists of 27 other commissioners, yet to be selected.
A vote on that team is expected after the summer.A vote on that team is expected after the summer.