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Diana's thank you as contest draws to a close
January 17, 2012 4:01 PM
Diana has posted her 'thank you' as her bid to become the next President of the European Parliament 
ended in disappointment today.
The favoured candidate, the German Socialist, Martin Schulz polled 387 votes, with Nerj Deva, a British Tory, winning 142 votes and Diana, who stood as an independent, getting 141. This was the best ever showing by an Independent candidate in an election for the President of the European Parliament.
The successful candidate needed at least 336, or an absolute majority of votes, for victory. A total of 670 valid votes were cast with 29 being 'spoilt'.
Diana said in Strasbourg:
"These last weeks of campaigning took place at a fast pace and with enormous intensity but without the support received from all of you the challenge would have been much more difficult and lonely.
"My candidacy was about enabling a stronger European Parliament so as to bring it closer to all Europeans through my Presidency. It was also about challenging the existing... status quo among the leadership of the main political groups in the EP. I did not achieve these particular goals, but I did achieve a more open debate about them. On top of this I believe through my candidacy we achieved something extraordinary through the campaign media platforms: a real engagement with European citizens. The future relies on the EU citizens and their full engagement in the upcoming years. I continue to have a vision of Europe and particularly of a European Parliament that is much closer to the citizens of Europe. I will continue to do my utmost to promote that goal."
"My candidacy was about enabling a stronger European Parliament so as to bring it closer to all Europeans through my Presidency. It was also about challenging the existing... status quo among the leadership of the main political groups in the EP. I did not achieve these particular goals, but I did achieve a more open debate about them. On top of this I believe through my candidacy we achieved something extraordinary through the campaign media platforms: a real engagement with European citizens. The future relies on the EU citizens and their full engagement in the upcoming years. I continue to have a vision of Europe and particularly of a European Parliament that is much closer to the citizens of Europe. I will continue to do my utmost to promote that goal."
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