New faces join European politics

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By Jonty Bloom The World Tonight, BBC Radio 4 Jerzy Buzek is in the centre-right European People's Party (EPP)

The first session of the new European Parliament in Strasbourg has been dominated by two issues: the election of Jerzy Buzek as its president and the arrival of the first far right MEPs from the UK.

Jerzy Buzek is the living embodiment of what many people think the European Union is all about.

He was born in Poland, in a border region which changed hands between Czechoslovakia, Poland and Germany in the chaos of World War II.

He ended the war living and working in communist Poland - a regime that he eventually helped to bring down as a member of the anti-bureaucratic trade union Solidarity.

Eventually, he became prime minister of Poland and now, aged 69, has been sworn in as the first president of the European Parliament from the former communist East.

It has been a remarkable journey for him and for Europe, the significance of which can perhaps best be judged by a line from Mr Buzek's speech of thanks.

Nick Griffin seemed to think he might get quite a respectful reception on the floor of the European Parliament Jonty Bloom, BBC Radio 4 <a class="" href="/2/hi/europe/8148729.stm">Euro parliament elects new leader</a>

"Once upon a time I hoped to be a member of the Polish Parliament, in a free Poland," he said.

"Today I have become the president of the European Parliament, something I could never have dreamed of."

But amid all the symbolism that surrounds these events it is also worth remembering that the role of president is largely symbolic and, in this case, is the result of political trade off.

It has already been arranged that conservative Mr Buzek will serve two-and-half years before standing down in favour of a socialist candidate.

Anti-BNP petition

If that kind of wheeler-dealing highlights one problem for Europe, many MEPs fear that the election of Nick Griffin and Andrew Brons presents another.

They are the first members of the far right British National Party to win seats in the European Parliament, although to be fair that has caused more consternation in the UK than in Strasbourg where far right politicians are not so uncommon.

Their election has led to a petition by 90,000 British voters declaring that the BNP does not speak for them.

Nick Griffin has been elected by voters in the North West of England

But technically now, at least, they do and no petition is going to stop them being MEPs or speaking when and how they want.

In fact, Nick Griffin seemed to think he might get quite a respectful reception on the floor of the European Parliament.

He pointed out that when UK Independence Party's leader Nigel Farage attacked the "federalist project" from the floor of Parliament he was heckled.

But he said: "When Bruno Gollnisch [from the French National Front] got up and spoke more specifically today he was heard politely, so I may be in the same category, we will see."

Mr Griffin may well be right, but it seems unlikely.

It is true to say, however, that the European Parliament is made up of a very wide range of political parties and has coped with their often controversial views for a long time.

Doubtless it will manage to do so in the next five years as well.