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
Father of the House (New Zealand) Father of the House (New Zealand) Father or Mother of the New Zealand Parliament, often called Father of the House, is an unofficial title applied to the longest continuously serving MP in the house, regardless of their position. The Father of the House has no official role in Parliament. The current Father of the House in the New Zealand Parliament is Nick Smith, a former Cabinet Minister, having served continuously since 1990. While Winston Peters first entered parliament in 1979, he was not in Parliament from 1981 to 1984, or between 2008 and 2011. In New Zealand's first election of