European Lib Dem Group backs Watson to continue as Leader

12.15.25pm GMT Wed 29th Nov 2006

European Liberal Democrats today re-elected South West and Gibraltar MEP Graham Watson as their leader in the European Parliament until the end of the legislature's mandate in 2009.

Graham Watson was the first British Liberal Democrat ever to be elected to the European Parliament, winning the Somerset & North Devon constituency in 1994 with a majority of over 22,500. In June 1999 Graham was elected to represent the new enlarged South West of England constituency, which covers Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon and Cornwall and which he has held since then. With Gibraltar being added to the constituency after the European Parliamentary elections in June 2004

From 1994 to 1999, he was a member of the Committee for Economic & Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy and the Budgets Committee. From July 1999 to 2002 he served as Chairman of the Committee on Citizens' Freedoms and Rights, Justice and Home Affairs. In January 2002 Graham Watson was elected as Leader of the European Parliament's Liberal Democrat group which in 2004 became the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe. Under Graham Watson's leadership the Group has grown from 52 to over 90 members; on 1 January it will number 107 with its new MEPs from Romania and Bulgaria.

Graham Watson is the only British leader of a political group in the European Parliament. His re-election will also make him the only leader of the Liberal Group to have held the position for over five years. During his time in the European Parliament, Graham Watson has published five books on EU politics.

Graham Watson's predecessors in the leadership position were:

Pat Cox - former President of the European Parliament - (1998 - 2001)

Gijs de Vries (1994 - 1998)

Yves Galland (1992 - 1994)

Valery Giscard d'Estaing (1989 - 1991)

Simone Veil (1984 - 1989)

Martin Bangemann (1979 - 1984)