Five key institutions in the European Union are to appoint new leaders in the largest ever shake-up of top jobs in the bloc. The posts include presidents of the three political bodies – the executive European Commission (currently Jean-Claude Juncker), the Council of national leaders (Donald Tusk) and the European Parliament (Antonio Tajani) – plus the European Central Bank (Mario Draghi) and the 
EU’s foreign policy chief (Federica Mogherini).

An EU-wide election last week returned a European Parliament with a splintered centre and gains by pro-EU liberals and greens as well as eurosceptic nationalists and the far-right. It leaves the EU more fragmented, so finding consensus may be harder than in the past.

After lengthy negotiations, the new top officials will take up their posts on November 1, except for the new European Council chief, who starts on December 1.

 
• infographics
 
• european_parliament
 
• european_union