Tony Blair backed to be Europe's first president
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Independent Minds
Europe minister Glenys Kinnock today reinforced speculation that Tony Blair wants to be Europe's first president.
She said the entire Government fully supported Mr Blair's "candidature" although the former prime minister has refused to confirm that he is bidding for the post.
There is no official list of contenders for a new Euro-job which will only exist if the Lisbon treaty is fully approved and ratified by all EU countries.
But Mrs Kinnock, visiting the European Parliament in Strasbourg, made clear the Government would be pushing him as the man to run Europe for up to five years under new treaty arrangements.
"The UK Government is supporting Tony Blair's candidature for president of the Council (of EU governments)," she told a press conference.
Asked if the prospect of being Europe's president had been discussed with Mr Blair, she said: "It is the Government's position. I am sure they would not do that without asking him".
Speculation has been mounting for years that Mr Blair would be the obvious choice to represent the EU under the new arrangements. The post - with an undefined remit but with a mission to be the global face of the EU - would run for two and a half years and be renewable once.
That would give Mr Blair a possible five-year term to help shape the EU, chairing summits of EU leaders and setting the agenda in all key policy areas.
Mr Blair has kept away from the debate about his future, aware that bidding too soon could scupper any chances of getting the necessary consensus amongst EU leaders.
There would also be attacks from eurosceptics if there were official discussions about a job based on the assumption the controversial Lisbon treaty will come into force.
In any case, no formal announcement of a candidacy would be made until after the Irish referendum on the treaty in the autumn - and only if the voters say "yes".
Mrs Kinnock said Mr Blair would be a good choice because he was perceived by many as having the right qualities.
She said: "He is someone with strength of character, status, people know who he is, and he could step into this new role with a lot of respect and he would be generally welcomed."
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Comments
Does Europe want it's standing to go down the pan in a large part of the world. Look how he handled the Iraq war. Look how the economy has crashed. Look at all the spin, the lies, the cover ups.
Europe should be looking for someone with some standing as a mediator, a peacemaker.
That is if you accept that Europe needs an unelected president in the first place!
He's either mad or bad. Or both. What would possess any sane person to think he is a fit person for any public position?
That slimeball/ war criminal will never represent me....................
Definitely the most depressing news of the week/month/year.
Toolan
W-H-A-T ??? Political prostitute Her Highnes Lady Glenys Kinnock ..'the Government fully supported BLiar for EU President...!!!! Uhm - did anyone ask the people the UK Government is 'supposed' to represent ?
So here we have the truth - Ms Kinnock is just back from the gold-plated trough of the EUSSR - and her horrible other half is still there.
We have Mandleslime just back from the EU - in the House of Lords.
So Kinnock and Mandleslime have been told - by the corrupt EUSSR - that Blair's to be next EUSSR President. The powers behind the scenes have decided. Forget any other countries leader or politician, forget any pretence of an election.
Excuse me - the Irish have still to vote on the LisCon Treaty - the biggest written act of treason ever.
Can't people see just what an appalling setup the EUSSR really is - it's the end of Freedom, Democracy, Free Choice, Free Will, Free anything for the ordinary people. We are regarded as worker ants, to be worked, and taxed and controlled - until we die off.
Just so that the gold-plated 'elites' can lead their lives of perfumed luxury.
But now we can see them for what they are - parasites.
Its a horrible mix of George Orwell's 1984 AND Animal Farm.....why didn't we take heed of Orwell ?
Toolan
As a lifelong socialist, I and countless others were appalled at the way he blindly took decisions that cost our country lives and money, at the way he used his position to promote Brand Blair and at the way he created a presidental style of Government in the UK overlooking the talent that he had in his Party.
He made the greatest mistake - in getting Labour, sorry, New Labour - elected by saying that he would stick to the Tory spending plan. What he should then have done on day 2 or 3 of his presidential reign, was to have increased income tax by, say 2p, and then his Government had the money to achieve sort out the key problems in education, health, manufacturing, housing, defence and overseas aid.
Ah well, perhaps I shall not live long enough to see the European President elected...one hopes
David Denton
Belper, Derbyshire
Praha, Czech Republic and
Trivandrum, India
You may be interested to know that, as Chair of our local Branch in the 1990's, I persuaded them to vote against Blair being Leader but had that happened, we would have still been under the rule of the Tories.
I commend you for at least having a very and articulating it
Merkel doesnt want him, Sarkozy doesnt want him and I and my wife and children definetly dont want this warmongering, wanna be pope with blood on his hands messing up Europe and possibly having Mr. G. Brown as president of the IMF or the ECB. PLEASE, there must somewhere be some sanity on this world
* strength of character - bowed down to George Bush, the Pope and anyone with a lot of money. Plently of brushes with the law relying on associates to ensure the CPS did not press charges. Extensively proven to be a liar and unprincipled.
* status - international war criminal now on the payroll of big business.
* people know who he is - his name is usually met with an outburst such as "Wanker!"
* he could step into this new role with a lot of respect and he would be generally welcomed - Considering the only person who respects and likes him is that stuffed suit guy who is going to post a comment telling me I am deluded, this statement is further from the truth than the dodgy dossier.
Considering I left Britain to escape NuLab do I now have to leave Europe? Probably not, there is no way the Irish will vote that Lisbon Treaty through just because they did not vote how they were meant to last time. And the British won't vote it in... but then they won't be given the opportunity to mess up like the Irish did. Unelected representatives eh, it seems we have them in spades?
A: Yes, as soon as possible. Why don't you apply for the post he'll be leaving?
Robert Wright takes on big questions, and he's taken this one on in his new book, The Evolution of God. He follows the changing moods of God as reflected in ancient Scripture, to see what circumstances brought out the best and worst in religions.
According to Wright, "The moral of the story is simple: When people see their interests threatened by another group, this perception brings out the most belligerent parts of their religion. Such circumstances are good news for violent extremists and bad news for moderates. What Obama is trying to do -- make Palestinians feel less threatened, and make Muslims generally feel more respected -- may now, as it did in ancient times, bring out the tolerant side of a religion."
US President Barack Obama praises Britain's 'extraordinary' contribution towards the Nato effort in Afghanistan.
I thank you
Firozali A. Mulla
There was a court case. The husband, ?Your honour. My wife does not cook food for me. She is always out. Never washes my clothes and does not feed my kids.
The judge, ?You are right?
Wife, ?Your honour. My husband always comes drunk. Never brings money from office. Stay late in the night. Comes drunk and beats my kids and me. I earn the living?
The Judge, ?You are right?
Court clerk, ?Your honour both cannot be right?
Judge, ?You are right also?
Robert Wright takes on big questions, and he's taken this one on in his new book, The Evolution of God. He follows the changing moods of God as reflected in ancient Scripture, to see what circumstances brought out the best and worst in religions.
According to Wright, "The moral of the story is simple: When people see their interests threatened by another group, this perception brings out the most belligerent parts of their religion. Such circumstances are good news for violent extremists and bad news for moderates. What Obama is trying to do -- make Palestinians feel less threatened, and make Muslims generally feel more respected -- may now, as it did in ancient times, bring out the tolerant side of a religion." SARKOZT WILL NOT LIKE THIS
I thank you
Firozali A. Mulla
Stop Blair! say No! to the smarmy git.
How on earth after the mess Blair left the UK in, the mess Blair left Afghanistan and Iraq in, can these people assume that Blair will do anything but wreck the EU, asset strip it and leave a smoking ruin as we have seen in the wake of this man.
And consider this... there is NO provisio stopping Blair amending the EU so that he can stand again or again or as we saw here in the UK with Blair's velvet coup attempt, the LRRB, set himself up as King of Europe for life...
The man is a war criminal, a traitor, a monster, a liar, a thief, a scumbag that thinks that a jolly up at the local Catholic church will expunge his crimes.
For gods sake for all of us Ireland vote NO!
Hope y'all enjoy it.
Is this about the Iraq war. No. Karzai No. Pakis? No 5 years term Yes Long yes veryyyyyy long for all but then he gets paid "He is someone with strength of character, status, people know who he is, and he could step into this new role with a lot of respect and he would be generally welcomed." He he h eh eh eh hehe please ple ass stop as dop stop he he heh Government would be pushing him as the man to run Europe for up to five years under new treaty arrangements. Psuh and pull is is good at he heh The post - with an undefined remit but with a mission to be the global face of the EU - would run for two and a half years and be renewable once. 5 years then 2 and half then 5 he he heh pais in pesos whellbaroes sorry sepelling bad sad
The US and Swiss governments Sunday called for the postponement of a court showdown seeking to force
I thank you
Firozali A. Mulla
a man with strong ties with oil companies , a man who has nobody´s approval but a bunch of crooks.
this man is a bilderberger for sure and is not fit to be in the office.
Yes, folks, our old favourite Anthony Charles Linton Blair, who bombed Serbia, invaded Sierra Leone, Iraq and Afghanistan, who has been proven time and again to be a bare-faced liar, is waiting in the wings.
It is literally beyond belief.
Not only should he be stopped from applying but there are serious grounds ( getting stronger each day with the Cheney revelations) for him to charged with 'war crimes' as it now appears that he was fully aware of the torturing of terrorist suspects by the Bush regime. He together with the his lieutenants- namely Mandelson, Sraw, Blunkett, Blears and all the rest- have systematically stolen from this nation by misuse of their privileged positions while in power. Politics aside, the people of this nation regardless of their 'political allegiances' need to rise up together and shout 'enough is enough' and demand that this 'rape of the nation' by the political elite, PFIs, bankers and consultants is brought to a halt
Why are we so stupid that we allow these cheats to continue unopposed while they tell us, that we must 'tighten our belts' while awarding themselves fat bonuses. As many are now saying..'It's no wonder that this country is going to the dogs'.
Well how narrow a narative is that?
Just because people don't wish to see the Lisbon treaty in it's present form pushed through, they are eurosceptic. Ireland being the only country to have a working constitution that allows it's citizens to vote on important issues affecting changes to it's constitution, is the only country to have had a vote on this issue.
They said no, so if you are trying to say Ireland is eurosceptic then, you are having a laugh, they are the most pro EU country in the EU. The only difference between them and here is they have a constitution and rights.
This is fiction, you are putting forward as journalism, as no such position exists yet and there is no certain future for it.
So stick to the facts and the present and you might make more sense.
Please.
BTW he will be on the run by then :P
I don't think so.
European politicians are hardly going to elect a President from a country that has done more to sabotage the Community than any other. Half in, half out, opt outs here, opt outs there, 'the common currency is not in our interests'.
Ten years in the seat of power and every opportunity to make us legit in European eyes and he couldn't make the decision. For heaven's sake; the history of the man and the party he re-established is the perfect reason NOT to elect him.
And I think Europe already recognises this. It's just the yesterday's men of New Labour who live in hope.
www.stopblair.eu
JAIL THIS CRIMINAL.
Say NO to the lisbon treaty! No to dictatorship!!
www.petice.eu/?lang=EN