The Struggle to Give the European Parliament Clout

As the weakest of the EU's three major institutions, the European Parliament has often been viewed as little more than a rubber stamp for the others. But Martin Schulz, the German Social Democrat who was likely to become the new President in late January 2012, planned to change that - and he was not afraid of ruffling feathers in the process.

Martin Schulz was elected President of the European Parliament on the 17 January 2012.

• Primary Source

EUObserver, 16.1.12: German left-winger to lead EU parliament after re-shuffle http://euobserver.com/843/114886

Wikipedia: Martin Schulz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Schulz

European Parliament: President: Functions http://www.europarl.europa.eu/president/en/the_president/functions.html

EUObserver, 17.1.12: New EU parliament president promises to ruffle feathers http://euobserver.com/843/114914

European Parliament: Press Release, 17.1.12: Martin Schulz elected President of the European Parliament http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20120113IPR35350/html/Martin-Schulz-elected-President-of-the-European-Parliament

European Parliament: Press Release, 17.1.12: New line-up of Political Group Chairs http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/pressroom/content/20120117IPR35588/html/New-line-up-of-Political-Group-Chairs

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