Blair’s as EU President is a not a good idea for his ex-advisor
October 18th, 2009 - 5:17 pm ICT by ANILondon, Oct. 18 (ANI): Tony Blair’s former chief adviser on the European Union has joined the club of those who want to overturn the ex-prime minister’s bid of becoming the President of Europe.
Sir Stephen Wall, who is one of the key architects of the post of EU president, said a high-profile figure such as Blair was “not necessarily a very good idea” and cast doubt on his ability to build consensus among EU leaders.
“[That] is not necessarily a very good idea. The powers are very constrained. If the president of the United States did phone a President Tony Blair to ask for something, then Blair could only respond that he would ‘consult 27 governments and see what we can do,” he said.
He added that a figure from a smaller state, however, would send a “unifying signal.”Wall’s statements have come amid growing signs that a President Blair would not be welcomed by ordinary citizens of Europe, despite their leaders showing support.A new research by The Independent has revealed a democratic discrepancy between voters and national leaders - who wield the votes for the new president.
The findings are supported by a European-wide petition to stop Blair from taking the post, with nearly 38,000 people have signed the petition.The EU president, a role created by the Lisbon Treaty, will be decided before the end of this year, with only Vaclav Klaus, the Czech president, yet to ratify the charter. (ANI)
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Tags: architects, cast doubt, chief adviser, citizens of europe, consensus, czech president, discrepancy, european union, governments, high profile, lisbon, national leaders, new president, ordinary citizens, petition, president of the united states, prime minister, sir stephen, tony blair, vaclav klaus
