I'll be president of Europe if you give me the power - Blair

Tony Blair has been holding discussions with some of his oldest allies on how he could mount a campaign later this year to become full-time president of the EU council, the prestigious new job characterised as "president of Europe". Blair, currently the Middle East envoy for the US, Russia, EU and the UN, has told friends he has made no final decision, but is increasingly willing to put himself forward for the job if it comes with real powers to intervene in defence and trade affairs.

Source:politics.guardian.co.uk...

Tony Blair fuelled speculation he might run to become the first full-time European Union president yesterday after a speech in Paris.

A powerful president of Europe is not a good idea, especially one that has the power to intervene in the affairs of sovereign nations. I'm not sure Tony Blair will be the most popular choice for the job, either, since he's rather divisive.

The EU needs to reform itself with the powers and roles that it already has, not to ask for more. I am pro-European, but I don't support extra powers or roles for the EU. It's not very transparent or democratic and there are far more urgent reforms needed than a president (let's take a look at the Common Agricultural Policy, for instance, or inter-EU migration).

This scares the daylights out of me. Would I have the ability to elect the next president of Europe?

No and this worries me even more. Too many un-elected people dictating how I live my life. At least I get the opportunity to cast my vote on the UK Prime Minister and his party.

Not sure which is worse, an un-elected European President or Tony Blair wanting the job and trying to cash in on old favours to get the job.

Originally posted by Freedom ERP
This scares the daylights out of me. Would I have the ability to elect the next president of Europe?

No and this worries me even more. Too many un-elected people dictating how I live my life. At least I get the opportunity to cast my vote on the UK Prime Minister and his party.

Not sure which is worse, an un-elected European President or Tony Blair wanting the job and trying to cash in on old favours to get the job.

I usally keep my nose out politics in Europe. But soon enough this will affect everyone. Every country deserves to be free and have peace. Like let The Queen rule the UK, Let the French President rule France. etc. I feel this is why each country has a President that was elected by the people.

Not let Tony Blair run all of Europe. Tell you the truth I don't see how anyone can rule all of Europe. The man will go insane.

Originally posted by Leyla
Not let Tony Blair run all of Europe.

Tell you the truth I don't see how anyone can rule all of Europe.

- There are some very funny ideas about what an EU President would do & what the job would mean.

It is in no way analogous to being an American-type President - as we can see from numerous examples of Presidency in Europe.

If Tony Blair (a big if) were to stand for EU President and if he were elected (another huge if) what's such a big deal about it all if the job is akin to a typically European version of Presidency?

I think some folks have some very odd day-dreams about the type of President the EU wants - especially British people who seem to be incapable of imagining anything other than an American type of Presidency.

If people would be a little more informed & realistic about this they'd realise that the EU already has a 6mth rotating Presidency and that Tony Blair in his 10 years as British Prime Minister has effectively been 'EU President' twice already.

EU Presidency link

Originally posted by sminkeypinkey

Originally posted by Leyla
Not let Tony Blair run all of Europe.

Tell you the truth I don't see how anyone can rule all of Europe.

- There are some very funny ideas about what an EU President would do & what the job would mean.

I have some ideas want to see them lol.

The constant ringing of the EU Presidents phone for starters not to mention the 10,000,000 million messages a day. Heh

Added

OH so every 6 months its passed to another country.

[edit on 2/8/2008 by Leyla]

Leyla I think you have the wrong idea about what a President of the EU Council means.

In Europe we usually do not mean an American type Presidency for a start, that is not how the majority of our Presidencys are.

There is right now a rotating EU Presidency
(and as I said Tony Blair has already been 'EU President' twice in his 10yrs as British Prime Minister)
but this is not quite the same as the proposed new post.

Nah, there's actually a small chance that Blair will be the first "European President" so to speak.

They don't want a man who's been PM of a country as powerful as Britain and with too many relations with Bush and co.

The one who's probably going to be elected President is Jean-Claude Junker the actual PM of Luxembourg.

[edit on 24-2-2008 by Estess]