Euro conservatives pick Juncker to seek top EU job

Conservative politicians from across Europe have elected former Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker as their candidate for the presidency of the European Commission, the most powerful post in the European Union.

Juncker triumphed today at a European People's Party convention in Dublin, where he defeated Michel Barnier of France.

Juncker received 382 votes to 245 for Barnier, the EC's current internal markets minister.

Juan Manuel Barroso, the conservative bloc's previous choice, is stepping down as commission chief after 10 years in the job.

The winner faces a tough challenge to become president versus European Parliament leader Martin Schulz, the Socialists' candidate for EC president.
 

New rules give the largest party emerging from European Parliament elections in May the best chance to fill the EC presidency.