MEPs attempt to block Le Pen from becoming parliament 'father'

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Leading MEP Martin Schulz has called for the EU assembly's internal rules to be changed to prevent it from the potential embarrassment of having its July inaugural session opened by someone who has minimised the Holocaust.

"It is not imperative that the oldest MEP presides over the inaugural session," said the German MEP, who suggested that the situation would be "unacceptable."

Under the European Parliament's rules, the oldest euro-deputy opens the inaugural session of the new legislature, this year set to take place 14 July.

This time, the job is set to fall to Jean-Marie Le Pen, the leader of France's far-right National Front, who has in the past described Auschwitz as a "detail of history." Mr Le Pen, an MEP since 1984, will turn 81 after the June European elections and is almost sure to be re-elected.