A re-wording of European Parliament rules means far-right French politician Jean-Marie Le Pen will be denied the opportunity to chair the inaugural session when the new parliament opens in July.
An amendment on the internal workings of the parliament, supported by socialist and centre-right parties, means that the opening session will instead fall to outgoing speaker Hans-Gert Pöttering, a German Christian Democrat.
It is traditionally chaired by the oldest member, currently Le Pen, 81.
If Herr Pöttering is not re-elected, the role would fall to the most senior of 14 vice-presidents.
The impetus to change the rule, in the last week before the parliament’s five-year term ends, came from German Social Democrat MEP Martin Schulz, who was determined to prevent Le Pen, a convicted fascist who has downplayed the Holocaust, from assuming the role.
“A politician who continues to assert that the Nazi gas chambers are a detail of history cannot have the honour of presiding over this assembly, which symbolises the reconciliation of the peoples of Europe," said Herr Schulz.
The European elections that will decide the 736 MEPs, takes place from June 4-7.