Tony Blair can count on the support of at least one old ally as he manoeuvres himself into position to become the first President of Europe -- Silvio Berlusconi. The Italian Prime Minister found time out from his own political battles to write a front-page letter in a right-wing newspaper, declaring his former holiday companion to be the best man for the job. "Tony Blair has got everything it needs to become the first president of the European Council," he wrote in Il Foglio. "He has everything it needs to be designated to that role, as soon as it will be judicially and politically possible . . . "In agreement with many other heads of government, and heads of state, and in co-ordination with the powers of the European Parliament, my Government and I will work to ensure we do not lose a great political legacy, made with courage, equilibrium and prudence without uncertainty."
Tony Blair can count on the support of at least one old ally as he manoeuvres himself into position to become the first President of Europe -- Silvio Berlusconi.
The Italian Prime Minister found time out from his own political battles to write a front-page letter in a right-wing newspaper, declaring his former holiday companion to be the best man for the job.
"Tony Blair has got everything it needs to become the first president of the European Council," he wrote in Il Foglio. "He has everything it needs to be designated to that role, as soon as it will be judicially and politically possible . . .
"In agreement with many other heads of government, and heads of state, and in co-ordination with the powers of the European Parliament, my Government and I will work to ensure we do not lose a great political legacy, made with courage, equilibrium and prudence without uncertainty."
He also played a memorable role in their Italian holidays, treating the Blairs to his legendary hospitality during a visit to his villa in Sardinia in 2004.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has endorsed Tony Blair as his preferred candidate to be president of the European Union.Mr Blair had "the right credentials" and should get the job as soon as "legally and politically possible", he wrote to Italian newspaper Il Foglio. Mr Berlusconi also said changes to the way the EU is run would leave a "great political legacy" for Europe. Mr Blair, UK prime minister until 2007, is currently a Middle East peace envoy. The presidency would be created under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, which still has to be ratified by the Czech Republic.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has endorsed Tony Blair as his preferred candidate to be president of the European Union.
Mr Blair had "the right credentials" and should get the job as soon as "legally and politically possible", he wrote to Italian newspaper Il Foglio.
Mr Berlusconi also said changes to the way the EU is run would leave a "great political legacy" for Europe.
Mr Blair, UK prime minister until 2007, is currently a Middle East peace envoy.
The presidency would be created under the terms of the Lisbon Treaty, which still has to be ratified by the Czech Republic.
Some people hate Tony Blair for what he did in office, most notably assisting in the unseating of Saddam Hussein. Others hate him for what he has done since being forced out of office by Gordon Brown, most notably for making what his former mentor, Neil Kinnock, called "loadsamoney". Still others hate him for what he might become - the president of the European Union, a post created by denying citizens in key European countries a voice in the process by which the Lisbon constitution - er, treaty - was adopted. All the Blair haters are wrong. [...] Finally, there is the EU presidency, or the possibility of it. I yield to no one in my dislike of the unaccountable, kleptocratic bureaucracy and its appropriation to itself of the prerogatives of parliament. But you lost that fight when your prime minister reneged on his promise of a referendum and signed the constitution - er, treaty. The EU's interest, which is what the role is all about now, is clearly in appointing (elections are not the thing in the EU) a famous, dynamic leader who can give it instant credibility on the world stage.
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Finally, there is the EU presidency, or the possibility of it. I yield to no one in my dislike of the unaccountable, kleptocratic bureaucracy and its appropriation to itself of the prerogatives of parliament. But you lost that fight when your prime minister reneged on his promise of a referendum and signed the constitution - er, treaty. The EU's interest, which is what the role is all about now, is clearly in appointing (elections are not the thing in the EU) a famous, dynamic leader who can give it instant credibility on the world stage.
Some people hate Tony Blair for what he did in office, most notably assisting in the unseating of Saddam Hussein
Does he really believe that's how we see it ? Or is his framing so deliberatel;y dishonest that it's just a wind-up.
Anyway, it's just one of Murdoch's goons doing Murdoch's dirty work keep to the Fen Causeway
