History of the European Union since 2004 against and 29 abstentions. The 2009 elections again saw a victory for the European People's Party, despite losing the British Conservatives who formed a smaller eurosceptic grouping with other anti-federalist right wing parties. Parliament's presidency was once again divided between the People's Party and the Socialists, with Jerzy Buzek elected as the first eastern European to become President of the European Parliament. In 2008, Barroso had steadily won support from leaders for a second term as president, Nicolas Sarkozy and Silvio Berlusconi both declared their support for Barroso, though Barroso himself stated it is up to the political parties in
Domestic policy of the Nicolas Sarkozy administration Parliament allowed various laws to be enacted in a hurry: LRU law, law on recidivists, TEPA law (enacted after the Constitutional council modified it), law on social dialogue and minimum service in transport, adoption of the RSA (implemented for experimentation in November). Reforms continued to be prepared and examined after the summer holidays, with the creation of commissions, releasing of reports and discussions. Nicolas Sarkozy also prepared the pledged reform of secondary education and high school by writing to every teacher a « Letter to teachers » in which he recalled the missions and the values conveyed by school and