Former PM is strong favourite to be given job - if he can demonstrate that he wants it.Tony Blair is now an official candidate for the position of first president of Europe. But his ambition could be thwarted by a catch-22 - he may not secure the post unless he campaigns actively, yet he does not want to throw his hat into the ring unless he is sure of landing the job. The former prime minister is seen as the most heavyweight and charismatic of the possible runners in what could be a crowded field. But it is by no means certain that he would win the race."He wants it, but he does not want to be humiliated by failing to get it," one ally said. And Mr Blair is said to only want the new title of president of the European Council if it is a big job, as Europe's representative to the world. The EU is yet to write a job description. Mr Blair's status as the favourite was somewhat bolstered by Gordon Brown's endorsement on Wednesday. "If Tony Blair decides to stand as President of the European Council, once that job has been created, then of course we will support him," the Prime Minister's spokesman said.
Tony Blair is now an official candidate for the position of first president of Europe. But his ambition could be thwarted by a catch-22 - he may not secure the post unless he campaigns actively, yet he does not want to throw his hat into the ring unless he is sure of landing the job.
The former prime minister is seen as the most heavyweight and charismatic of the possible runners in what could be a crowded field. But it is by no means certain that he would win the race.
"He wants it, but he does not want to be humiliated by failing to get it," one ally said. And Mr Blair is said to only want the new title of president of the European Council if it is a big job, as Europe's representative to the world. The EU is yet to write a job description.
Mr Blair's status as the favourite was somewhat bolstered by Gordon Brown's endorsement on Wednesday. "If Tony Blair decides to stand as President of the European Council, once that job has been created, then of course we will support him," the Prime Minister's spokesman said.
It doesn't help the situation that Mr Barroso remains the only candidate for the Commission Presidency. That is rather the fault of the political parties at European level and the Socialists in particular for not being able to agree on an alternative. Nevertheless, under the prompting of Mr Daniel Cohn-Bendit, the leader of the Green Party in the European Parliament, who has rather assumed to himself the leadership of the `Stop Barroso' faction, various alternative candidates have been suggested - Guy Verhofstadt, Francois Fillion, Mario Monti, Joschka Fischer, Mary Robinson, Chris Patten.... Whether any of these candidates actually wants the job, or would serve if pressed, or would be agreeable to all 27 member states, is another (and rather unlikely) matter. Even so the danger for Mr Barroso is that momentum could build behind one of these others and the automatic prolongation of his term that he had assumed could now easily melt away - much to the consternation of Swedish Prime Minister, Mr Frederik Reinfeldt, and the Swedish Presidency for whom Mr Barroso seemed to be the one fixed point in the shifting quicksands of their presidential terrain. Nevertheless, all may not yet be lost for in a political move both slick and audacious, Mr Cohn-Bendit is now suggesting apparently that Mr Barroso should be held in reserve to occupy the post of European President, when the Lisbon Treaty is ratified. It is hard to know whether this suggestion is a sop to his conservative opponents (who would be all for confirming Barroso immediately but lack the voting strength to do so), or whether it is a case that while Mr Cohn-Bendit has no desire whatsoever to see Mr Barroso ensconced for another five years as head of the European Commission, his dislike of the man is outweighed only by his anathema for Mr Tony Blair, whom he fears might turn up one fine day and be slipped into the European Presidency, faute de mieux. Here then might be a chance to kill two birds with one stone.
It doesn't help the situation that Mr Barroso remains the only candidate for the Commission Presidency. That is rather the fault of the political parties at European level and the Socialists in particular for not being able to agree on an alternative.
Nevertheless, under the prompting of Mr Daniel Cohn-Bendit, the leader of the Green Party in the European Parliament, who has rather assumed to himself the leadership of the `Stop Barroso' faction, various alternative candidates have been suggested - Guy Verhofstadt, Francois Fillion, Mario Monti, Joschka Fischer, Mary Robinson, Chris Patten.... Whether any of these candidates actually wants the job, or would serve if pressed, or would be agreeable to all 27 member states, is another (and rather unlikely) matter.
Even so the danger for Mr Barroso is that momentum could build behind one of these others and the automatic prolongation of his term that he had assumed could now easily melt away - much to the consternation of Swedish Prime Minister, Mr Frederik Reinfeldt, and the Swedish Presidency for whom Mr Barroso seemed to be the one fixed point in the shifting quicksands of their presidential terrain.
Nevertheless, all may not yet be lost for in a political move both slick and audacious, Mr Cohn-Bendit is now suggesting apparently that Mr Barroso should be held in reserve to occupy the post of European President, when the Lisbon Treaty is ratified.
It is hard to know whether this suggestion is a sop to his conservative opponents (who would be all for confirming Barroso immediately but lack the voting strength to do so), or whether it is a case that while Mr Cohn-Bendit has no desire whatsoever to see Mr Barroso ensconced for another five years as head of the European Commission, his dislike of the man is outweighed only by his anathema for Mr Tony Blair, whom he fears might turn up one fine day and be slipped into the European Presidency, faute de mieux. Here then might be a chance to kill two birds with one stone.
Mr Brown had not intended to declare his support for Mr Blair at this stage. He was bounced into it by remarks in Strasbourg by Baroness Kinnock, the former MEP who is now Britain's Europe Minister. She told journalists that the Government was backing his candidacy. After that, Downing Street could hardly contradict her, even though it insisted she had not made a formal "announcement".There is frustration in government circles that Lady Kinnock let herself be drawn into backing Mr Blair. Her timing was unfortunate: the comments distracted attention (and headlines) from an embarrassing Tory split in the European Parliament...
Mr Brown had not intended to declare his support for Mr Blair at this stage. He was bounced into it by remarks in Strasbourg by Baroness Kinnock, the former MEP who is now Britain's Europe Minister. She told journalists that the Government was backing his candidacy. After that, Downing Street could hardly contradict her, even though it insisted she had not made a formal "announcement".
There is frustration in government circles that Lady Kinnock let herself be drawn into backing Mr Blair.
Her timing was unfortunate: the comments distracted attention (and headlines) from an embarrassing Tory split in the European Parliament...
So, was Kinnock stupid or reacting to the González leaks from Sarkozy? *Lunatic*, n. One whose delusions are out of fashion.
Is that a cue for us to send in an e-mail saying "yes, we can"? The peak-to-trough part of the business cycle is an outlier. Carnot would have died laughing.
