PM's last-ditch appeal to Merkel for Blair EU presidency
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Independent Minds
Gordon Brown will make a last-ditch appeal today to Angela Merkel to rally behind Tony Blair as the first president of Europe.
The Prime Minister – who will lobby other EU leaders at a ceremony to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall – will tell the German Chancellor that Europe needs a "big hitter" on the world stage rather than someone to chair meetings – as some EU leaders view the new post to be created under the Treaty of Lisbon.
Meanwhile Mr Blair is reported to have made a late flurry of personal calls to EU leaders in bid to revive his campaign for the post. According to The Times, the former prime minister is believed to have spoken to José Manuel Barroso, the head of the European Commission, Brian Cowen, the Taoiseach, and Jan Peter Balkenende, the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, also in contention for the post.
Senior British officials insist that Mr Blair still has a "50-50 chance" of landing the job even though his prospects receded when some member states opposed him. They believe the German Chancellor now holds the key. The officials claim the former prime minister still enjoys the personal support of Nicolas Sarkozy but admit that the French President wants a common front with Ms Merkel. She has hinted that the EU President should come from one of the EU's smaller member states.
If Mr Blair is blocked, Britain is likely to support Mr Balkenende over Herman Van Rompuy, the Prime Minister of Belgium.
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Comments
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http://wwweuropeanpp.wordpress.com
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These two have ruin our country, been disloyal to our armed forces and the public, by entering into two illegal wars.
Brown, Blair and their party have no place on this planet, let alone Europe.
To tell Angela Merkel to oppose a Blair Presidency, send an e-mail to her office at:
http://www.bundesregierung.de/Webs/B
You can also do the following:
1. Sign the following petition: http://www.stopblair.eu/
2. Contact your MP and MEPs to enlist their support against Blair, via: http://www.writetothem.com/
3. Contact your friends by e-mail and ask them to do the same.
Fat chance he has of influencing anybody.
Bit like MT opposing German re-unification and then being hurt when Germany declined to help when sterling was bundled out of the ERM.
And of course, DC shows no signs of having learnt that to get on in society, there has to be some give and take.
What happened to leaders with vision?
Oh yes, TB had a vison.
Perhaps less goverment is better government.
You have such a clod-hopping, crass and bumbling, reputation; Do you REALLY think that the equally despicable Blair wants YOU batting for his team?
You are the archetypal KOD, Kiss of Death, to ANYthing you touch.
Apparently Two-gun Tony would rather have had Myrah Hindley as campaign manager.
No offense Gordo.
When the UK is a full part time member, maybe it will be worth thinking about but not when the UK is almost out.
By the way, Cameron should have that referendum on british -EU membership as soon as he becomes PM next Spring. Why wait?
Easy question: " should Britain leave the EU?" ......looking forward to it...can't wait....
VIVE l'EU, Es Lebe die EU! Great Day for Europe.....Novemeber 9th should become a legal holiday throughout the EU ( except in Britain) to celebrate European unity and Freedom.
Just when we thought we had got rid of him , he has the utter front to TOUT for the job of President of Europe - when did Blair really promote Europe while he had the chance ?
Ms Merkel - please NO !