Stop Blair: ambition to lead Europe hits fierce opposition

[malaise]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/20/eu.spain?%20ref=opinion

<snip>
A "Stop Blair" website run by pro-Europeans has launched a petition against him; a transnational, cross-party caucus in the European parliament is forming to campaign against a Blair presidency; senior officials in Brussels are privately dismissive about the new post going to a Briton; and senior diplomats in European capitals also doubt that Blair is the right person for the post being created under Europe's new reform treaty.

"There was surprise in Berlin when Blair's name came up so soon," said a European ambassador. Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany admires Blair and has "great personal sympathy for Tony", he added.

"But more generally the German political elite would be puzzled by the idea of Tony Blair. His track record on EU matters is not so great. There is unease about a Briton at the top in that job. And then personally with Blair, there's the Iraq thing."

Sources close to Merkel confirmed her opposition. "He made a lot of fine speeches about Europe but, essentially, stood on the sidelines when it came to concrete steps forward," they said.

[jwirr]

1. I would think that his example of leadership in England would auto-

matically end his hopes in any other direction. He should have stayed miles away from *ss.

[tabasco]

2. Europe can do better than a gutless poodle.

I think they will.