French liberal wins top post in Euro-Assembly

Press, 19 July 1979, Page 6

French liberal wins top post in Euro-Assembly

NZPA-Reuter Strasbourg, France Western Europe's first directly-elected Parliament began work yesterday with the former French Health Minister, Simone Veil, a close political ally of Presid e n t Valery Giscard d’Estaing, in the chair. Mrs Veil, a survivor of the wartime Nazi concentration camps at Auschwitz and Belsen. was elected Assembly president earlier on a second ballot of the 410 deputies.

As the candidate of the liberal group, supported by Christian Democrats and Conservatives, she defeated two Italian Leftists — a Socialist. Mario Zagari, and a Communist, Giorgio Amendola.

Mrs Veil, a strong supporter of a closer European cooperation, chaired the opening ceremony at which the

assembly was urged to enlarge its role, question and criticise Common Market Ministerial decisions and challenge the Brussels E.E.C. Commission — the Nine’s executive body. The choice of Mrs Veil symbolises the European reconciliation the Community was created to bring about after two disastrous wars ravaged the continent.

In the 22 years of its history, the Parliament has never enjoyed real power but many members hope that last month’s direct elections will add to their political influence. The election, in polls spanning the nine Community' members, was most notable for a high abstention rate, which seemed to indicate that many voters thought the Parliament .was merely a talking shop. Afer the ceremonial opqn-

ing in the medieval French citv of Strasbourg, members faced the lengthy business of electing 12 assembly vicepresidents. The assembly presidency is a potentially influential post and Mrs Veil’s victory may strengthen France’s position in the Community. The extremist Protestant Northern Ireland politician, the Rev. lan Paisley, who has a seat at Strasbourg, made his presence felt early ir the first session: once when he protested that the British flag was upside down outside the Palace of Europe and again when he protested in writing at a reference to the former Irish Republic President, Eamon De Valera, as one of the European heroes of the past. Mr De Valera’s daughter, Site, who is 24, is the youngest minister of the European Assembly.