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Barroso faces vote on new mandate Barroso faces vote on new mandate
(30 minutes later)
The powerful European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, is expected to be given a second five-year term of office shortly.The powerful European Commission President, Jose Manuel Barroso, is expected to be given a second five-year term of office shortly.
The signs are that the European Parliament will vote for Mr Barroso, 53, a former Portuguese prime minister.The signs are that the European Parliament will vote for Mr Barroso, 53, a former Portuguese prime minister.
He is the only candidate for the role of Commission president - head of the EU's executive arm. Leaders of the 27 member states have already backed him.He is the only candidate for the role of Commission president - head of the EU's executive arm. Leaders of the 27 member states have already backed him.
But some MEPs on the left are expected to abstain. But he still faces opposition from Socialists and others on the left.
Critics accuse Mr Barroso of pandering to national governments and of promoting market liberalism which contributed to the financial crisis.Critics accuse Mr Barroso of pandering to national governments and of promoting market liberalism which contributed to the financial crisis.
He pitched openly for the votes of left-wing and liberal MEPs in a speech in Strasbourg on Tuesday.He pitched openly for the votes of left-wing and liberal MEPs in a speech in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
He emphasised his commitment to social policy, including equal pay for women.He emphasised his commitment to social policy, including equal pay for women.
He pledged to look again at existing laws to ensure that established workers were not undercut by cheap labour from other EU states.He pledged to look again at existing laws to ensure that established workers were not undercut by cheap labour from other EU states.
Mr Barroso also promised a new post of commissioner for civil liberties and minority rights.Mr Barroso also promised a new post of commissioner for civil liberties and minority rights.
No easy ride
The largest group in the 736-seat parliament, the centre-right European People's Party (EPP), voiced support for Mr Barroso, but its leader Joseph Daul warned him that "this is not a blank cheque and you will have to fulfil our expectations".
The leader of the Socialist group (S&D), Martin Schulz, instead called for "a real change of direction in the EU".
The S&D includes the British Labour group, whose leader Glenis Willmott called for more concrete proposals from the Commission to address the economic crisis.
"Frankly, we are disappointed with what he is currently proposing," she said in a statement.
"We want action to create employment, new and better jobs, fight mass unemployment - especially youth unemployment - promote equal pay and improve workers' rights."
The liberal group ALDE said it would support Mr Barroso, but urged him to beef up banking supervision.
The leader of the Conservative MEPs, Timothy Kirkhope, said Mr Barroso was "the only credible candidate". The Conservatives are in a new bloc called European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR).
"Whilst not perfect, and whilst we have had disagreements with Mr Barroso in the past, and are bound to again in the future, he impressed us when he spoke to our group with his candour, his no-nonsense approach and his commitment not to be swayed by dogmatic socialist ideology," he said.
A prominent Greens/EFA leader, Daniel Cohn-Bendit, voiced opposition to Mr Barroso, saying "we think we deserve somebody better". He added that the vote ought to be postponed until after the Irish referendum on the Lisbon Treaty on 2 October.