Former Polish PM is new EU president
Published:Wednesday | July 15, 2009 | 3:35 PM
The European Parliament has elected former Polish Prime Minister Jerzy Buzek as the chamber\'s president.
Mr Buzek is the first politician from the former communist bloc to chair the parliament.
He received 555 votes in a first ballot.
Mr Buzek will hold the post for two-and-a-half years - half of the parliament\'s five-year mandate.
He replaces German conservative Hans-Gert Poettering as parliament president.