'President' Blair loses Sarkozy's support

[oldironside]

"Tony Blair's chances of becoming the first EU "president" nose-dived yesterday when President Nicolas Sarkozy distanced himself from the former prime minister's undeclared campaign for the post.

Mr Sarkozy, who had been Mr Blair's most prominent backer, suggested that Britain's non-membership of the euro was a "problem" which could wreck his chances of becoming the new "strong symbol" of Europe.

Although Mr Blair remains the runaway favourite with British punters and bookmakers, a powerful tide has been running against him in recent days. The Benelux countries and Austria, and influential political figures in France, have all spoken out against Mr Blair, partly because of what they see as Britain's semi-detached attitude to the EU. "

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/president-blair-loses-sarkozys-support-1804354.html

Doesn't seem important that he's a warmonger with his head up Bush's arse. Oh, well.

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. They do give 'warmonger' as one of the reasons Benelux and Austria don't like him

I'm glad to see the final paragraph:

The rumour-mill in Brussels now prefers the chances of the Dutch Prime Minister, Jan Peter Balkenende, the former Finnish prime minister Paavo Lipponen or the former Irish president Mary Robinson

Good. I suggested Mary Robinson myself a couple of weeks ago.

[oldironside]

2. Fair enough...

... but I was actually referring to Sarkozy´s reasoning.

Yes, Mary Robinson has good pro-European credentials and would undoubtedly do a good job as well as being a positive ambassador, although personally I´d choose someone who works in the Detford Spud-U-Like over Blair.

[Anarcho-Socialist]

3. Mary Robinson knows how to be a respectable president

Everyone's sick of the the sight of Blair.

[LeftishBrit]

4. Robinson would be good.

I'm not mad on Balkenende (I was in the Netherlands recently and heard about the negative impact of his government's privatization policies); but at least he's not a war criminal. I know nothing about Lipponen.

[fedsron2us]

5. Anyone but Blair

If the EU runs to past form the job of President will go to a national from one of the smaller member states.