Parliament voting for a new president, but it is a done deal behind the scenes. Schulz will win,voting is just window dressing in the EU
Current president Jerzy Buzek will finish his term in the Parliament, with Schulz taking over the role for the next 30 month stint.
Schulz has been an MEP since 1994 and is planning to make his role more political.
The whole notion that this is being voted on is nothing short of farcical. Schulz's appointment as President is guaranteed due to a deal being brokered between two of the EP's biggest groups - The European People's Party (EPP) and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D)
The two groups hold enough MEP's to be able to form a majority to assure Schulz's win. The agreement meant that the five year period was split down the middle, with the outgoing Jerzy Busek taking the first 30 months and incoming Schulz taking the last 30 months.
Mr Schulz is being opposed by two MEPs, Nirj Deva and Diana Wallis, but it seems highly unlikly that they have any chance of being voted in today due to the strength of this deal.
It is also interesting that Mr Schulz was a vocal supporter of Cathy Ashton, someone I often debate with in Parliament. Schulz's approval of Cathy Ashton can be seen on this link http://www.socialistsanddemocrats.eu/gpes/public/detail.htm?id=133315§ion=NER&category=NEWS&request_locale=EN
