Leicester's deputy mayor Rory Palmer has been selected by the Labour Party to fight the next European Election.
Councillor Palmer will stand as a candidate to represent the East Midlands as one of its five MEPs in Brussels when voters go to the polls in May 2014.
The European Elections work on a proportional system so Coun Palmer, who represents the city's Eyres Monsell Ward, will spend the next few months campaigning across the region seeking the support of Labour party members.
The members will decide in a ballot how he and three other candidates will rank on the ballot sheet next May.
Labour's only current MEP for the East Midlands is Glenis Wilmott.
If elected, Coun Palmer will have to stand down as from his £50,000-a-year role as Sir Peter Soulsby's deputy but he told the Leicester Mercury he would keep his various jobs in the city until that time.
As well as representing Eyres Monsell he is also chairman of the city's health and wellbeing board.
He said: "This is just the start a challenging process,
"Through it, I will maintain my full portfolio of responsibilities here.
"I am confident I can do that."
When asked why he would rather be an MEP in Brussels than Leicester's deputy mayor Coun Palmer said: "I Love Leicester. It is my home but Europe plays an important part in our daily lives and its role is growing.
"I believe we need a strong voice for Leicester in the European Parliament. I will continue to work on some hugely important issues such as youth unemployment and child poverty.
"Leicester is a huge part of the East Midlands and I want to continue representing it."
Coun Palmer, who unsuccessfully stood as Labour's candidate in for the Bosworth constituency in the 2010 General Election, would be paid a salary £81,500-a-year if elected as an MEP.
