Belgian PM is first 'president of Europe' (CNN) {NOT Tony Bliar!}

[eppur_se_muova]

Brussels, Belgium (CNN) -- European Union leaders named Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy as the first "president of Europe" Thursday, edging out former British Prime Minister Tony Blair for a still-vaguely defined job.

"I did not seek this high position, and I didn't take any steps to achieve it," Van Rompuy said in accepting the job. "But tonight, I take on this task with conviction and with enthusiasm."

Van Rompuy, a 62-year-old, soft-spoken fan of Japanese poetry, will become the face of European Union and represent its 27 member nations at summits overseas. His conservative government took office in December 2008.

The Belgian is "well known as a consensus builder," said British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who added the selection was unanimous. And Jose Manuel Barroso, the president of the European Commission -- the executive arm of the EU -- called Van Rompuy's selection "a tribute to Belgium," the EU's host country.

" I think the European Union also expressed its gratitude for the work of Belgium and the constant support that this country at the heart of Europe has given to our common project," he said.
***
more: http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/11/19/eu.presidency/index.html

[BelgianMadCow]

1. It's umm..interesting to see how little attention the new president gets

so I'm glad you posted about him.

Just like you, I'm very happy it didn't turn out to be Bliar. Having a president from a country that is strongly eurocritical and hasn't even adopted our currency...that would have sucked.

Van Rompuy (Vahn Rompeye is the pronounciation) is a typical belgian underdog, and he can easily be underestimated. I'm not particularly fond of him, but calling him dull, grey and without content is very, very superficial.

He lacks the need to be in the limelight all the time,
he believes in service not stardom,
he can laugh at himself - and even has a great undercooled sense of humour,
he speaks 5 languages,
he studied law and economics, was a professor in the latter,
he has strong personal beliefs (such as being contra abortion) which he can and has set aside for the greater good,
he's far more conservative than I am, but still to the left of Obama.

He is the kind of conservative I can appreciate, and would even call a vital part of the democratic debate.

I wish him well, and hope that his unceremonial tenacity and skills make for a stronger EU.

Oh, and visiting freepers: it's the socialist bloc in the EU parliament that killed Blairs chances, and Van Rompuy's party has been in a coalition government with the socialist party over here for the better part of the last 50 years. Eat that!

[pampango]

2. Great post. Thanks for the insight. n/t

[eppur_se_muova]

4. Thanks! That helps offset the "bland gray bureaucrat" lalel our MSM had chosen for him.

Our free-market news only wants to feature neocons with imperturbable hair. If a European isn't Bliar or Berlusconi, he may as well be al-Qaeda for all the love he'll get over here.

[jacko_be]

5. he also has, lack of charm, and no backbone, he hasn't done

anything accept being, assistant, and leader of a partie
Mr van Rompuy has bin chosen for the one and only thing
compromises, he is not aggressive, not defensive
not left or right, he has no backbone but will try to
make everything go really smooth, don't forget that this
belgian 1st minister has not been elected, (wtf) it's true
he has not bin elected democraticly , the only reason is
because the king wanted him after Mr Le terme had the
FORTISGATE scandal

i don't think he will make a stronger EU but a probably
he will put all the EU members one the same page

by the way (contra-abortion) where did you read this lol
he's christian alright but in Belgium they don't have
something called pro life and stuff... they have people who
do wat they want wen they want.

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. Most Europeans didn't want the position to come from the large countries

like Britain, France or Germany and even people from those countries felt that way.

"Mr.Rumpy Pumpy" He has claimed that he is distantly related to famed detective Hercule Poirot.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Van_Rompuy


Blair should be in Prison for war crimes