Divided European Parliament to elect new president

The European Parliament faces a stormy election for a new president on Jan. 17 after a long-standing coalition of pro-EU parties collapsed just as the crisis-hit bloc confronts a wave of eurosceptic populism.

While there are at least seven contenders for the job, the main candidates are two Italians and a Belgian seeking to replace Martin Schulz. The German socialist is stepping down as head of the EU's only elected body to return to politics in his homeland.

Jan. 17's secret ballot by 751 MEPs at the parliament in the French city of Strasbourg is most likely to be won by Italian politician Antonio Tajani, a former spokesman for Italy's scandal-plagued ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi.

Tajani, 63, who served as European commissioner for industry from 2010 to 2014, is the candidate of the center-right European People's Party, the largest group in the assembly.

Socialist Gianni Pittella of Italy also has a shot at the top job.

But liberal Guy Verhofstadt of Belgium, parliament's Brexit negotiator, saw his chances dip after a failed merger last week with Italy's populist Five Star movement.

The winner will be in charge of the European Parliament at the critical time when it has final approval on any deal for Britain's departure from the European Union, expected in 2019.

In a febrile political climate, the result could also eventually prompt a reshuffle of other top EU jobs, an instability the 28-nation bloc can do without as it tackles crises ranging from Brexit to migration.

For all but five years of the European Parliament's history since 1979, the EPP and social democrats have alternated in the presidency under a "grand coalition" aimed at getting laws passed more easily.

But that cozy...