Candidates to be the next President of the European Parliament took part in the only debate before next week's vote.

The News: Presidency candidates face questioning

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The election of EP President  seldom throws up surprises.

The choice stems from an agreement  among the big political groups.

The last deal looks pretty certain  to ensure Martin Schulz takes over.

With two other candidates,  all three took part in a debate.

The first to speak questioned that method.

The Presidency belongs to 754 MEPs,  not to the large political groups.

The President should be  independent of politics

and be a true 'speaker' of the Parliament.

Only an independent president can  guarantee the Parliament's independence.

The next oldest, Diana Wallis  of the ALDE, set out her manifesto.

I want to re-empower each and every  individual member of the House

to take a much greater part  in how we organise this House,

I want to blow some winds of change  through the Bureau of Parliament.

Martin Schulz spoke  of the Parliament's need

to assert its powers in today's difficult  circumstances, something he pledged to do.

The task of a parliament  is to control the executive

and to influence legislation as to ensure  social justice and coherence in Europe.

That is my aim for the EP and I hope  to get a majority for that next Tuesday.

Discussion included  reconnecting with citizens,

the shortage of women in key posts,  the budget at a time of austerity

and the UK position  on the fiscal policy agreement.

A proposal to put their cases  to the full house before a vote

was rejected  by the Conference of Presidents,

with Mr Schulz's group  among those against.

As the debate ended few believed  there'll be any upsets in who gets elected.