The Juncker Commission Takes Office

On November 1, 2014, the new European Commission under the Presidency of Jean-Claude Juncker took office for a five-year term. Jean-Claude Juncker was elected President of the European Commission by secret ballot by the European Parliament on July 15, 2014, with 422 votes. At least 376 votes were necessary to elect the new President of the Commission.
For the first time in EU history, the European Parliament elected – and not just approved – the President of the European Commission, following a proposal by the European Council, based on the Treaty of Lisbon (December 2009).
422 members voted in favor, 250 against, while 47 abstained. A total of 729 MEPs voted, but 10 of their ballots were invalid.