Mr Barroso's candidacy was backed by parliament's centre-right European People's Party, but opposed by the socialists and some other groups and he stressed his desire to reach out and build consensus among the parties of the pro-European mainstream.
Jau ilgu laiku pirms Barrozu kandidatūras iesniegšanas Parlamentam viņš bija viennozīmīgs centriski labējās Eiropas Tautas partijas kandidāts.