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TEHRAN, Jul 2 - The European Parliament opened a new session on Tuesday with newly elected British MEPs still in their ranks and three Catalan separatists blocked by Madrid from taking their seats.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - The 751-seat parliament -- based in Strasbourg, France -- is more fragmented than ever after a vote in May that saw solid gains by the liberals and Greens as well as the far right and eurosceptics in the 751-seat chamber.
With Brexit delayed until as late as October 31, the deep political divisions in Britain were on full display in the eastern French city as 73 British MEPs arrived at parliament.
Brexit firebrand Nigel Farage, a veteran of the EU chamber since 1999, led the charge as his MEPs turned their backs when asked to stand for the EU anthem -- Beethoven's Ode to Joy -- at the start of the session.
Farage also warned of a "turquoise takeover" in the UK if the ruling Conservatives failed to deliver a divorce.
With 29 elected representatives, his Brexit Party -- whose official colour is turquoise -- is the national party with the largest delegation, just ahead of the Northern League of Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini with 28 seats.
Opposite Farage were the anti-Brexit Liberal Democrats, who also performed well in the EU elections. They arrived in Strasbourg with bright yellow t-shirts emblazoned with "Bollocks to Brexit" and "Stop Brexit".
In theory, the new parliament should have only 705 seats if Brexit were taken into account. When Brexit happens, 27 of the British seats are to be redistributed to other countries and another 46 set aside for future EU enlargements.
Source: AFP
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