Conservatives and Liberals make EU parliament presidential pact 

ITALIAN MEP Antonio Tajani has been elected as the new president of the European Parliament based in Brussels and Strasbourg following a vote by the body’s 751 elected members. 

Tajani defeated his nearest challenger, socialist MEP Gianni Pittella, by 351 votes to 282 in the final runoff. 

Tajani will replace Martin Schulz, who stepped down from the role to return to domestic politics in Germany.