Strasbourg, France - The European Parliament on Wednesday gave its strong backing to Jose Manuel Barroso by re-electing him as head of the European Commission for a further five years. The conservative politician received 382 votes in favour, well above the parliament's absolute majority of 369.
Of the 718 votes cast Wednesday in the 736-strong assembly, 219 were against him, while a further 117 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) abstained.
Speaking immediately after the vote, Barroso vowed to work "with all political groups", saying the result gave him "a strong sense of responsibility."
Though votes were cast by secret ballot, Barroso is believed to have received the support of most conservative and liberal MEPs. Despite vocal socialist opposition to his re-election bid, the result suggested that a number of left-wing MEPs had backed him as well.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency, welcomed the fact that parliament had approved the unanimous nomination of Barroso by the EU's 27 member states.
The vote "gives us the stability needed for fully focusing on important challenges such as the economic crisis and climate change," Reinfeldt said.
Barroso, 53, will now work on his new commission, despite uncertainty as to how many faces will be on the team.
The doubt comes from the fact that the Lisbon Treaty, which is designed to improve the workings of an expanded EU and change the shape of the commission, faces a crucial referendum in Ireland on October 2.
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.
