Time: Opposition Grows to Tony Blair's Bid for E.U. President

Here's a riddle: What unites French Socialists and British Conservatives, brings feminists together with the editors of prurient tabloid newspapers and gives shared purpose to a clutch of small European countries and more than 37,000 signatories to an online petition? Answer: Tony Blair. Across Europe, natural adversaries and strange bedfellows are finding common purpose in their efforts to stop Britain's former Prime Minister from assuming the role popularly known as president of Europe.

[...]

 Indeed there will. France's President, Nicolas Sarkozy, is Blair's most persuasive champion, and the Italians, Poles and Spanish are also on board. But two things could still scupper Blair's chances when the E.U. horse-trading begins: a coalition of small countries coalescing around an alternative candidate or a "nein" from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the leader of Europe's largest economy. Westminster insiders say Merkel will back Blair, though without enthusiasm. A German government source is more nuanced. "The Chancellor worked well with [Blair] during the 2007 German E.U. presidency when the Lisbon Treaty was sealed. But of course, she worked well with others too."