Graham Watson

Sir Graham Watson ( born March 23, 1956 in Rothesay ( Scotland)) is a British politician of the European Liberal Democrats. He is since 1994 Member of the European Parliament and in 2002 Chairman of the Group of the European Liberal, Democrat and Reform Party. Since 2004 to 2009 he was leader of the 2004 newly formed Group of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe ( ALDE).

Early January 2009, Watson announced to seek the office of President of the European Parliament for the period after the 2009 European elections. He wanted to make the cast of the Office an election issue and thus separate from the usual " agreement behind closed doors " With this announcement. He also announced to pursue a two - coalition between the Christian Democrat EPP- ED and ALDE; However, this did not reach a majority in the election. Ultimately, it came as early as 2004 an agreement between the Christian Democrat EPP and the Socialist SPE to split the presidency for half an legislature. Watson himself subsequently announced to take any significant positions in Parliament for the period 2009-14.

Activities before the parliamentary time

Graham Watson was born in Scotland to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. His father was an officer in the Royal Navy and his mother a teacher. He attended school in Somerset and studied at Heriot -Watt University in Edinburgh, where in 1979 he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in languages. He speaks four European languages ​​and worked 1979-1980 as an interpreter. From 1980 to 1983 he worked in the administration of Paisley colleges.

Watson began his political activities in the International Federation of Liberal Youth whose vice-president, he was in 1977. In 1979 he became Secretary General of this organization. Watson was a founding member of the European Youth Forum. Between 1983 and 1993 he was a board member of the European Liberal, Democratic and Reform Party. Between 1983 and 1987 led Watson the private office of the chairman of the British Liberal Party, David Steel. He then worked until 1994 for the HSBC Bank in London and Hong Kong.

Work in the European Parliament

Fourth term

In 1994 he was elected for the constituency of Somerset and North Devon in the European Parliament. Together with Robin Teverson he was thus one of the first British Liberals in the European Parliament. In Parliament he joined with Teverson the Group of the European Liberal, Democratic and Reform Party. During his first term of office until 1999, Watson was a member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and the Committee on Budgets. From 1994 to 1996 was also parliamentary managing his group.

5th Term

With the introduction of proportional representation in the European elections 1999, Watson's former constituency in favor of the constituency of South West England was resolved for now now several people were elected to the European Parliament. As the only British Liberal he made with 15.7 % of the votes the way into the parliament. Between 1999 and 2002 he was chairman of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs. When the then leader of the Liberal Pat Cox was elected President of the European Parliament in 2002, Watson was his successor as party leader.

6th Term

In the European elections in 2004 Watson was re-elected with 18.3 % of the vote in the constituency South West England. In the European Parliament then joined the European Liberal Democrat and Reform Party and the European Democratic Party of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe together. Watson was elected the first chairman of the new group. He is a member of the Conference of Presidents and the Delegation for relations with the Korean Peninsula. Recently, he signed the Manifesto of the Spinelli Group for more European integration.

7th parliamentary term

Watson, who had announced its intention to acquire any significant offices more in this period is Chairman of the Delegation for relations with India.

As he is a member in the Conference of Delegation Chairs, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and the Delegation for relations with the People's Republic of China. As a deputy, he is in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs and the Delegation for relations with the countries of Southeast Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations ( ASEAN).

Personal

Graham Watson is married, has two children and lives in Longport, Somerset.

Publications

  • Graham Watson, Christine Gilmore: The Power of Speech. Bagehot Publishing, 2006, ISBN 978-0954574543.
  • Graham Watson, Simon Titley: Liberalism - Something to Shout About. Bagehot Publishing, 2006.
  • Graham Watson, Katharine Durrant: Liberal Democracy & Globalisation. Bagehot Publishing, 2005, ISBN 978-0954574529.
  • Graham Watson, Sarah Kent: EU've Got Mail: Liberal Letters from the European Parliament. Bagehot Publishing, 2004, ISBN 978-0954574512.
  • Graham Watson, Sarah Kent: Liberal Language: Speeches and Essays. Bagehot Publishing, 1989, ISBN 978-0954574505.
  • Graham Watson, Howard Mollet: 2020 Vision 2001.
  • Graham Watson, Joanna Hazelwood: To the Power of Ten: UK Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament. Centre for Reform, 2000, ISBN 978-1902622170.
  • Graham Watson: The Liberals in the North - South dialogue in 1980.
Rothesay, Bute Liberal Party (UK) European Parliament election, 1994 Robin Teverson, Baron Teverson European Parliament election, 2004
276239
de