Jean-Claude Juncker Elected President of EU Commission

Jean-Claude Juncker. Photo: EPA/BGNES

A majority in the European Parliament has approved Jean-Claude Juncker to be President of the European Commission, reports BBC.

He got 422 votes out of the 729 total cast in the secret ballot, despite strong opposition earlier from Britain. Juncker got well over the 376 votes minimum that he needed.

There were 250 votes against him, 47 abstentions and 10 spoilt ballots.

A firm believer in EU integration, the former Luxembourgh Prime Minister will succeed incumbent Jose Manuel Barroso of Portugal in November.

In a speech to MEPs, he pledged the Commission would be a "political body", not just Europe's civil service.

He got sustained applause when he said the euro "protects Europe".

Continue reading on: