Translation via GT:
Former Prime Minister and Speaker Paavo Lipponen (sd.) has again been proposed as the EU's president. On Monday, he was given justification for the new office by the British Financial Times newspaper columnist Wolfgang Münchau, who believes that Lipponen should at least be a better option than the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. According to Münchau, Europe would be hell if the current Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso continues, and with Blair as president: it will lead to two and a half years of their control of the EU summit meetings of the European Council. In Münchau's view there is a need for someone who is willing and able "to bang a few heads together", and it is not Blair. "I have heard that political friends are leaning to Paavo Lipponen, Finland's previous prime minister. He could be a better option, Münchau writes.
On Monday, he was given justification for the new office by the British Financial Times newspaper columnist Wolfgang Münchau, who believes that Lipponen should at least be a better option than the former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
According to Münchau, Europe would be hell if the current Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso continues, and with Blair as president: it will lead to two and a half years of their control of the EU summit meetings of the European Council.
In Münchau's view there is a need for someone who is willing and able "to bang a few heads together", and it is not Blair.
"I have heard that political friends are leaning to Paavo Lipponen, Finland's previous prime minister. He could be a better option, Münchau writes.
Former PM - thus familiar with Council Summits
Finnish PM when Finland took chairmanship of Council in 1999 - 2000
Plays water polo You can't be me, I'm taken
