On January 20, 1987, Lord Henry PLUMB is elected as EP President at the EP in Strasbourg. Announcements of the results, congratulation and extracts from the speech of Lord Henry PLUMB, newly elected EP President

statement

PLUMB, Henry (EPP, UK, The Lord)

BARÓN CRESPO, Enrique (PSE, ES)

election of the President of the European Parliament (T)

GAZIS, Nikolaos (S, EL)

Election of Lord Henry PLUMB as EP President

Title: Election of Lord Henry PLUMB as EP President (20/01/1987)

Atmosphere before the annoucement of the results, congratulation (6 shots)

SOUNDBITE (Greek), Nikolaos GAZIS, Oldest Member, "Mr Baron Crespo: 236 votes, Sir Henry Plumb: 241 votes. Sir Henry Plumb has thus obtained an absolute majority of the votes cast and is elected President. (Loud and prolonged applause) I congratulate Sir Henry Plumb on his election and offer him warm wishes for the successful performance of his duties. I call on him to take the Chair." (Applause) (8 shots)

SOUNDBITE (English), Lord Henry PLUMB, EP President, "Firstly, colleagues, may I thank you all for the tremendous support you have given me. It has been a nail-biting exercise which of course has gone on through the whole of the day and depicts the true democracy that exists in the European Parlia&shy;ment. I, therefore, would like first of all - if I may be forgiven on this occasion - to thank my wife who is here ..." (Applause)

SOUNDBITE (English), Lord Henry PLUMB, EP President, "I would like to thank all those who supported me in electing me to this position of great res&shy; ponsibility and to those who did not support me I make an absolute promise that I am here to represent the whole of the Parliament, whatever our political interests may be." (Applause)

SOUNDBITE (English), Lord Henry PLUMB, EP President, "First of all, my particular thanks to the other candi&shy;dates It was and I hope we all agree a very heal&shy; thy and a very dignified campaign. The fact that Enrique Baron Crespo and I share a birthday perhaps gives us something in common. We almost have the same Christian names and I think, Enrique, in the last few weeks we have developed a very healthy relation&shy; ship and a good friendship as we have stood together on various platforms. (Applause). There was, therefore, during this campaign no bloodshed, there was no battleground for a fight between the 'Red Baron' and the 'Blue Knight'." (Laughter)

SOUNDBITE (English), Lord Henry PLUMB, EP President, "But, colleagues, I realize, as you will, that I am follow&shy; ing a long line of very distinguished presidents who have held this office. There has been none more distinguished than the President who has vacated this seat, Pierre Pflimlin. (Standing ovation). Your warm support indicates the tremendous warmth of feeling that we have for Pierre Pflimlin and we know, of course, that he has had more experience in politics than many of us put together."

SOUNDBITE (English), Lord Henry PLUMB, EP President, "Let me say here and now to those who still perhaps have doubts about my European identity. I was born an Englishman. I shall die a European ... (Applause) ... an English European, believing in the same ideals as the French Europeans, the Italian Europeans, the German Europeans, and so on."

SOUNDBITE (English), Lord Henry PLUMB, EP President, "Our common continent is Europe and that is where I belong and I will try to represent your interests in European terms, in leading what I believe can and must grow into the greatest institution in this great world of ours. Thank you again for your tremendous support."