Juncker survives no confidence vote in EU parliament

EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker (centre) speaks to unveil an eagerly awaited 315-billion-euro investment plan to "kickstart" the economy, on Nov 26, 2014, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. European Commission Pres
EU Commission chief Jean-Claude Juncker (centre) speaks to unveil an eagerly awaited 315-billion-euro investment plan to "kickstart" the economy, on Nov 26, 2014, at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, eastern France. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker easily survived a confidence vote in the European Parliament on Thursday brought over revelations that Luxembourg attracted multinationals with super low tax rates during his period as prime minister. -- PHOTO: AFP

BRUSSELS (REUTERS) - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker easily survived a confidence vote in the European Parliament on Thursday brought over revelations that Luxembourg attracted multinationals with super low tax rates during his period as prime minister.

The censure motion was clearly defeated by 461 votes to 101, but it is hardly an auspicious start for Juncker, who has faced criticism in his first month in office, both over his former role as Luxembourg leader and the potential conflict of interest as head of a European Commission examining tax avoidance.

The motion of censure, brought by far-right parties such as France's Front National and anti-EU parties including Britain's UKIP, said that Juncker was directly responsible for Luxembourg's tax avoidance policies during his time as the country's prime minister.

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