Tony Blair will be the UK's official candidate for EU president, Baroness Kinnock has apparently confirmed. The post will only be created if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified by all EU states - Ireland is to hold a second referendum in October. There has long been speculation that the former PM would go for the post but he has not confirmed he will do so. It is the first time a UK government minister has publicly announced Tony Blair is a candidate for the job.
The post will only be created if the Lisbon Treaty is ratified by all EU states - Ireland is to hold a second referendum in October.
There has long been speculation that the former PM would go for the post but he has not confirmed he will do so.
It is the first time a UK government minister has publicly announced Tony Blair is a candidate for the job.
SARKOZY 'NON' TO BLAIR'S EURO PRESIDENCY DREAM - mirror.co.uk
Tony Blair's bid to land the powerful job of European Union President may have been scuppered - by his old pal Nicolas Sarkozy. The French President has switched his crucial support to Spain's ex-prime minister Felipe González, sources in Brussels have revealed. Without the backing of Mr Sarkozy, allies of Mr Blair privately admit he has no chance of getting the post.
Tony Blair's bid to land the powerful job of European Union President may have been scuppered - by his old pal Nicolas Sarkozy.
The French President has switched his crucial support to Spain's ex-prime minister Felipe González, sources in Brussels have revealed. Without the backing of Mr Sarkozy, allies of Mr Blair privately admit he has no chance of getting the post.
Sarkozy is said to have gone cool on Blair and could support Felipe González, the former Spanish prime minister, while Merkel's opposition seems to have diminished despite the fact that Blair is widely mistrusted in Germany for his role in the Iraq war and because he failed to use his 10 years in Downing Street to put Britain "at the heart of Europe". Privately, senior Swedish officials questioned the merits of a Blair presidency. Running the EU for the next year, the Swedish and Spanish governments enjoy agenda-setting powers that could complicate a Blair bid. The Briton's main assets, however, are name and brand recognition, international contacts, and the absence, so far, of any serious rival for the post. Last year, the Germans were said to be backing either Jean-Claude Juncker, the veteran prime minister of Luxembourg, or Wolfgang Schüssel, the former Austrian chancellor. Both are no longer mentioned as credible contenders.
Privately, senior Swedish officials questioned the merits of a Blair presidency. Running the EU for the next year, the Swedish and Spanish governments enjoy agenda-setting powers that could complicate a Blair bid.
The Briton's main assets, however, are name and brand recognition, international contacts, and the absence, so far, of any serious rival for the post.
Last year, the Germans were said to be backing either Jean-Claude Juncker, the veteran prime minister of Luxembourg, or Wolfgang Schüssel, the former Austrian chancellor. Both are no longer mentioned as credible contenders.
Because Sarko's delaration for González preceded it.
There is also a possibility that Brown wants to set up Bliar for exiting the political stage once and for all; but by now I don't think Brown is that cunning. *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
I'd say we need to be ready to revive the petition, just in case.
