Diana withdraws from race to lead Liberal and Democrats group in the European Parliament

4.05.11pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 30th Jun 2009

UK Liberal Democrat MEP Diana Wallis announced today that she will be withdrawing from the race for leadership of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) in the European Parliament.

As a result, former Belgian Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt, was elected to the group leadership unopposed.

Diana Wallis said:

"This is the best solution for the ALDE group. It will be rather special for the group to have a former Prime Minister as Leader and it presents a number of opportunities for the group".

Guy Verhofstadt proposed that Diana Wallis be one of the group's candidates for the Vice President of the European Parliament. He is convinced that she would be an 'ideal' Vice-President of the institution.

Guy Verhofstadt said: "Not only does Diana Wallis have ten years of experience as an MEP, she has already been a Vice-President of the European Parliament for the past two and a half years. Being the first female British vice-president for over twenty years, Diana Wallis is, for evident reasons, the ideal candidate to continue in the role."

Diana Wallis said: "I have enjoyed the role as Vice President for the past two and a half years with specific responsibility for transparency and I look forward to building on that experience and in helping to make Parliament a truly open and democratic body."