The European Parliament elected the new European Commission by 488 votes to 137, with 72 abstentions yesterday, in Strasbourg.

The new Commission will stay in office until 31 October 2014.

The EPP, S&D and ALDE groups announced that they would vote in favour of the college of Commissioners but the Greens, GUE/NGL and EFD voted against the new college.

The first Barroso Commission was voted into office in November 2004 by 449 votes to 149, with 82 abstentions.

Lothar Bisky, President of the Party of European Left and the GUE/NGL group in the European Parliament today explained to Commission President Barroso why his group objects to the new Commission. "The political guidelines for the new Commission do not deliver any strategy for more social justice. They do not shelter Europe from crisis and they do not provide a basis to successfully tackle poverty and social exclusion." Bisky said that the candidates chosen for the new Commission represent a continuation of the failed neoliberal politics of the former Commission.  "You can not expect applause for your programme and your team. The European Union must be about the people, about their jobs and their right to decent education and decent wages. This project must satisfy the right of the people to peaceful development and environmental sustainability." Bisky concluded: "Prepare yourself for a hard but fair political debate with us".