Lib Dem blogger Jonathan Fryer has the details (with apologies for LDV’s belatedness):
The ALDE (Liberal) Group in the new European Parliament has chosen the Flemish Liberal and former Prime Minister of Belgium, Guy Verhofstadt, to be its new leader. He takes over from the British (South West England) Liberal Democrat MEP Graham Watson, who has meanwhile thrown his hat into the ring to try to be the new President of the parliament. Under Graham’s stewardship, ALDE grew to just over 100 members within the previous, larger, parliament. The British were the biggest national contingent in ALDE then, but they were overtaken by the Germans this time as a result of the FDP’s impressive surge in last month’s elections.
You can read Jonathan’s article in full HERE. The ALDE press release is HERE.
4 Comments
Andrew Duff has competition in the race to be the most federalist MEP then.
Another boost for Euroscepticism in the UK then.
Cue ‘Ode to Joy’….
Fantastic news! A really strong leader with the experience and vision to succeed.
I am bemused as to why it is fantastic news. Verhorfstadt’s vision is not particularly liberal, neither is it democratic.