EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday (14 October) came out in favour of "Forza Blair" as president of the European Council. "Tony Blair has all the credentials to become the first president of the European Council," Mr Berlusconi wrote in a letter that appeared in Il Foglio, a conservative daily. Forza Italia's former leader has backed 'Forza Blair' The Italian leader was responding to an editorial entitled "Vote Tony, vote Tony!" in the paper that had appeared on Monday. "Dear editor, I absolutely agreed with your idea, even before you could think of it," the prime minister wrote. He added that the former British prime minister should be "appointed to that post as soon as legally and politically possible." On Tuesday, the newspaper known for its Fox-news style neo-conservatism, said that Mr Blair's candidacy was an opportunity both for Europe and for "Il Cavaliere."
EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Wednesday (14 October) came out in favour of "Forza Blair" as president of the European Council.
"Tony Blair has all the credentials to become the first president of the European Council," Mr Berlusconi wrote in a letter that appeared in Il Foglio, a conservative daily.
Forza Italia's former leader has backed 'Forza Blair'
The Italian leader was responding to an editorial entitled "Vote Tony, vote Tony!" in the paper that had appeared on Monday.
"Dear editor, I absolutely agreed with your idea, even before you could think of it," the prime minister wrote.
He added that the former British prime minister should be "appointed to that post as soon as legally and politically possible."
On Tuesday, the newspaper known for its Fox-news style neo-conservatism, said that Mr Blair's candidacy was an opportunity both for Europe and for "Il Cavaliere."
The remarks by Mr Sarkozy to Le Figaro, the newspaper that is considered to be his house organ, dampened hopes in the Blair team that French arm-twisting would win the day when EU leaders meet later this month in the aftermath of Ireland's approval of the Lisbon Treaty. French commentators said that Mr Sarkozy appeared to be dumping Mr Blair as a liability. The candidacy of Mr Blair is supported by eastern and southern Europe but opposed by the Netherlands and Belgium, founder states of the Common Market. It is also opposed by the European Left and much of the European Parliament. His support of the war in Iraq and free market capitalism damns him in many eyes. ... Mr Sarkozy's aides have been saying for weeks that France is not aiming to force Mr Blair on Europe. He has been canvassing other names, including Felipe González, the Socialist former Spanish Prime Minister. The games is far from over, French diplomats noted. The decision will come down to a bout of traditional EU horse-trading, probably at the leaders' summit in Brussels at the end of this month.
The remarks by Mr Sarkozy to Le Figaro, the newspaper that is considered to be his house organ, dampened hopes in the Blair team that French arm-twisting would win the day when EU leaders meet later this month in the aftermath of Ireland's approval of the Lisbon Treaty. French commentators said that Mr Sarkozy appeared to be dumping Mr Blair as a liability.
The candidacy of Mr Blair is supported by eastern and southern Europe but opposed by the Netherlands and Belgium, founder states of the Common Market. It is also opposed by the European Left and much of the European Parliament. His support of the war in Iraq and free market capitalism damns him in many eyes.
...
Mr Sarkozy's aides have been saying for weeks that France is not aiming to force Mr Blair on Europe. He has been canvassing other names, including Felipe González, the Socialist former Spanish Prime Minister. The games is far from over, French diplomats noted. The decision will come down to a bout of traditional EU horse-trading, probably at the leaders' summit in Brussels at the end of this month.
(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - The idea of Tony Blair becoming president of the European Council is not particularly popular with people in Britain, according to a poll by Angus Reid Strategies. 47 per cent of respondents oppose the former British prime minister taking on this role. ... Polling Data Under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, EU leaders will choose a President of the European Council for a two and a half year renewable term. Would you support or oppose Tony Blair becoming president of the European Council? Strongly support..............9% Moderately support...........23% Moderately oppose............12% Strongly oppose..............35% Not sure.....................20% Source: Angus Reid Strategies Methodology: Online interviews with 2,005 British adults, conducted on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, 2009. Margin of error is 2.2 per cent. Complete Poll (PDF)
Polling Data
Under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, EU leaders will choose a President of the European Council for a two and a half year renewable term. Would you support or oppose Tony Blair becoming president of the European Council?
Strongly support..............9%
Moderately support...........23%
Moderately oppose............12%
Strongly oppose..............35%
Not sure.....................20%
Source: Angus Reid Strategies Methodology: Online interviews with 2,005 British adults, conducted on Oct. 8 and Oct. 9, 2009. Margin of error is 2.2 per cent.
Complete Poll (PDF)
