Irishman wins EU parliament vote

Cox, right, is congratulated by outgoing president Fontaine

STRASBOURG, France -- Irish Liberal Pat Cox has been elected president of the European Parliament after a closely fought battle.

The Irish independent MEP who leads the Liberal Democrat grouping becomes the most powerful figure in the parliament after beating off the challenge from an ally of the UK's Prime Minister Tony Blair.

It was the first time in the parliament's 52-year history that a true contest had taken place. In the past, a candidate won the job through prearranged deals between the parties.

Cox, who had been the favourite, won an absolute majority in the third round of voting with 298 votes. Scottish socialist David Martin got 236 votes and 33 MEPs voted for Danish nationalist Jens-Peter Bonde.

A third round was necessary after the previous two ballots had failed to find an outright winner. Two other candidates had been running in the initial rounds.

Cox, in his victory speech, thanked the parliamentarians for choosing a representative from a small nation and a small party.

"That is a powerful message that you've given to a Europe about to enlarge," said Cox.

Cox, 49, had advocated reforms to make the 626-member EU assembly more effective and relevant.

He had campaigned on a promise to raise the profile of a legislature often seen as having little impact on EU or world affairs.

Almost all political parties in the chamber put forward a candidate to replace outgoing French conservative, Nicole Fontaine, who had come to the end of her two-and-half year term.

The body has become more powerful over the years, with the latest round of treaty reforms giving it the power to debate three-quarters of all EU legislation and the power to alter or throw out proposed bills.