Facing the fait accompli that the Conservatives would propose Rompuy, the Socialist considered that it was their responsibility to place a woman in one of the positions of highest responsibility in the EU, as progressive sectors had been demanding.
To me that is rationalising the choice of Asthon with hindsight. If Miliband had accepted the position they all would have been very happy with two men in the top positions.
the criteria for her choice in my opion was her being a Brit
As the leader of a government with more female than male ministers, I found it hardly understandable or acceptable that there would be no [women] among the main positions of the Union
There is never a single reason for anything. In the case of Ashton, there's a long list of reasons for her appointment, some stronger than others, topped with "... plus, she's a woman". En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
If it meant picking a random woman from somewhere in Europe in order to make a point about equality - probably not.
From the background comments, Ashton is well respected, and has the right qualifications - more so than the other contenders, apparently - so she got the job, at the cost of putting Mandelson's and perhaps Blair's nose out of joint.
I'm not seeing that as a fail.
The priority seems to have been to pick someone who could do a good job first - for local definitions of 'good job' - and be a woman second.
I'm not convinced that was the wrong way to do this.
But Fran's point that there is little concern, in fact, for gender equality, and that Miliband would have been taken had he been available, seems fair to me.
I disagree that "there is little concern for gender equality". However, "gender equality" doesn't trump all. Barroso and Zapatero would have huffed and puffed but in the end ZP would not have vetoed a candidate on the basis that they were not a woman. So you can actually have "Miliband would have been chosen had he made himself available, because the concern for gender equality is not overriding. Which is not the same thing as "there is no concern for gender equality".
The overriding concern here was, apparently, "no Blairism" (and that means no Blair, no Mandelson and no Hoon).
So "no to Blair" overrides "gender equality". Go figure. En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
But the massive fail that we should be happy about is the hit the Blair faction took. Anything but Blair, anything but Mandelson. And two distinctly un-Blairy appointees, so no ersatz Blair around. :-D
I am aware that Zapatero is one of the most feminist heads of state in Europe, but I think even he didn't fight much for a woman. My guess is that he would have had no problem with the a duo can Rompuy/Miliband. But now all of a sudden it sounds, like they made a real effort, when indeed it looks like she was a last minute choice, when none of the others was willing to take the job.
The one thing in my opinion that speaks for Asthon is her being woman, otherwise I just do not know enough about her.
I am complaining about gender equality in general and I think it is a sad state of being when European women have to lance a petition for a
Gender Balanced Commission Europe is full of competent women, now is the time to put them forward!
A new European Commission is going to take office this autumn and it looks like there will be even fewer female Commissioners in it than in the outgoing Commission. There are plenty of possible female candidates suitable for all portfolios. It's time to take action!
I also find it sad that I saw this petition for the first time an a US blog, not a European one. Though Americablog does also look at the situation of US women "AMERICAblog News| A great nation deserves the truth: Crisis in US women's leadership" which doesn't look much better and which also seems to slide backwards.
You can consider me an old feminist turning more and more cynic on this topic.
Just from this thread:
according to the consulted sources, it was valued that Ashton was a Commissioner and had a good relationship with Barroso since, as High Representative, she will be Vice President of the European Commission. In addition, a large part of the new Foreign Service of the EU, which she will lead, will be made up of current Commission functionnaries. Finally, her current responsibility, the Trade portfolio, had a foreign component.
her friends say she has considerable quiet charm. "She has achieved more in one year than Peter Mandelson did in four," said one. "He was too abrasive, whereas Cathy is patient and good at building alliances. It is the style of politics that works in Brussels." Or as Ashton herself put it in a waspish interview last year: "Everyone has their own style. Peter did a fantastic job in my view, but I bring a different style. I don't know any oligarchs. I don't think I've ever been on anyone's yacht." During her time in Brussels Ashton, a former health authority chairwoman who had never held elected office, forged an alliance with Barroso. She used her experience of fixing votes in the Lords to help the commission chairman out of difficulties with the Brussels parliament.
Or as Ashton herself put it in a waspish interview last year: "Everyone has their own style. Peter did a fantastic job in my view, but I bring a different style. I don't know any oligarchs. I don't think I've ever been on anyone's yacht."
During her time in Brussels Ashton, a former health authority chairwoman who had never held elected office, forged an alliance with Barroso. She used her experience of fixing votes in the Lords to help the commission chairman out of difficulties with the Brussels parliament.
The fact is,
Barroso had demanded that EU leaders be given the choice of a woman for one of the top Brussels jobs
the Socialist considered that it was their responsibility to place a woman in one of the positions of highest responsibility in the EU, as progressive sectors had been demanding. In addition
A woman candidate was requested, one was offered and she was elected. En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
That's what I am interested in - not if she is charming or if she has a good relation with Barroso or if she gets much done, that's nice but I would like to know here ideas behind what she gets done.
It is absolutely possible that she might turn out to do a great job, but at the moment this is all guesswork, until we know where stands on these and other topics.
And you have every right to see it your way, but I am still not convinced - that if Miliband had accepted, there would be two man in this two top positions
And that would be the end of the World as we know it? En un viejo país ineficiente, algo así como España entre dos guerras civiles, poseer una casa y poca hacienda y memoria ninguna. -- Gil de Biedma
How many women are likely to be members of the new Commission compared to the old? The fact that there was a wish to see a woman at the top can be seen as much as CYA as a genuine concern for gender equality.
How many women are likely to be members of the new Commission compared to the old?
As I read somewhere: fewer. A vote for PES is a vote for EPP! A vote for EPP is a vote for PES! Support the coalition, vote EPP-PES in 2009!
