The European Parliament is holding its first plenary session following elections in June.

Newly elected European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek of Poland is applauded by members of EU parliament at the EU parliament in Strasbourg July 14, 2009. [Yves Herman/REUTERS]

On Tuesday, ex-Polish Prime Minister, Jerzy Buzek, was elected president of the Parliament for the first half of the house's five-year term.

Jerzy Buzek is the first East European to hold this post, receiving 555 out of 713 votes in the first round.

Buzek is a candidate of the European Parliament's biggest political group--the European People's Party.

Under a deal between the EPP and the Party of European Socialists, the EU's second largest political group, a candidate from the socialist group will succeed Buzek halfway through the parliament's five-year term.

Buzek gave a brief speech after being elected. He stressed that Europeans are expecting the EU to take effective measures to tackle the current financial crisis.

A member of the European Parliament expressed her hopes for the direction of the group.

Buzek served as Polish prime minister between 1997 and 2001.

He was then elected member of the European Parliament in 2004 and re-elected in 2009.

In both European Parliament elections, he received a record number of votes.

(CCTV July 15, 2009)