Strasbourg, France- The European Parliament on Wednesday re-elected Jose Manuel Barroso for a second five-year term as head of the European Union's executive arm, the European Commission. The conservative politician received 382 votes in favour and 219 against, with 117 abstentions out of 718 votes cast in the Strasbourg assembly.
While the 53-year-old was standing unopposed, the result nevertheless marked a decisive victory for the Portuguese, who gained an absolute majority in the 736-strong assembly.
It is only the third time that a commission president has been confirmed for a second mandate since the post was created in 1957.
To date, the longest-serving commission chief was Jacques Delors of France, who held the post for 10 years, between 1985 and 1995.
A former prime minister, Barroso was first elected to the post in November 2004, succeeding Romano Prodi of Italy.
He spent much of his first term consolidating the EU's expansion to the east, after 12 new member states joined between 2004 and 2007.
In an address to parliament Tuesday, he said his second term would focus on creating a stronger Europe, one capable of shaping globalization and taking the lead in the global fight against climate change and corporate recklessness.
Barroso also vowed to take on the interest of big monopolies in France and Germany by calling for more competition in the EU's energy sector. He promised to review the EU's budget and to ask for more money from member states.
His next team of commissioners would include an official tasked with tackling one of Europe's most pressing problems, immigration, and a dedicated Commissioner for Climate Action, Barroso said.
