14/11/2006 (Agence Europe) - As expected, the PES will support the candidacy of Hans-Gert Pöttering for the Presidency of the EP, PES group leader Martin Schulz told press on Tuesday. In June 2004, the two groups came to an agreement which provided for EPP-ED support for Josep Borrell for the first half of the Parliamentary term, in return for PES support for the EPP-ED candidate for the second half. “We will keep and respect our agreement and offer Mr Pöttering our support,” Mr Schultz said. The ALDE group is waiting to find out Mr Pöttering's programme and has invited him to its meeting on Wednesday evening, said Graham Watson. “If we are satisfied, I do not imagine there will be great pressure from my group” to put forward a Liberal candidate, he went on. The Liberals, however, will expect the next President, to be elected on 16 January, to work to strengthen Parliament's control powers and have proposed that Parliament meet in plenary session every Wednesday, allowing it to monitor the work of the Commission more closely. The Greens have yet to decide if they will put forward a candidate. The GUE/NGL is in a similar position, but, through its leader Francis Wurtz has been scathing of the agreement between the EPP-ED and the PES. (dt)