According to the article, French President Nicolas Sarkozy is believed to be privately reaffirming his assertion that Blair is the best candidate for the job, and is preparing to push strongly to attract the support of EU leaders to coalesce around the former British prime minister.
As reported by EurActiv, Sarkozy's support for Blair has waxed and waned over the past two years (see EurActiv 07/05/08 and EurActiv 16/07/09), but it now appears he will fully back the former UK PM.
Furthermore, high-ranking French diplomats have claimed that German Chancellor Angela Merkel may be prepared to tone down her well-documented opposition to Blair. This does not appear to correspond to information from Dutch sources, who told EurActiv that Merkel would instead strongly support current Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende – to whom she is described as "very close" – for the top job (EurActiv 29/09/09).
The wording of the Lisbon Treaty - expected to come into force by the end of 2009 if Ireland votes 'yes' in its second referendum today (2 October) - is vague when describing the precise duties of the future Council president. Though on paper little more than a chairperson's role, certain EU experts argue that a charismatic, high-profile personality could mould the position into the global "face" of the EU, increasing the 27-member bloc's clout and prominence on the world stage.
It is precisely this possibility that is believed to be motivating Sarkozy's trumpeting of Blair, whereas a candidate like Balkenende would be the preferred option for those who see the job as requiring low-key diplomatic and managerial skills.
The last laugh for doomed Labour?
Installing Blair as EU Council president would also constitute a significant political coup for beleaguered British PM Gordon Brown, who current polls indicate is almost certain to lose power to the UK Conservatives in next year's general election.
Should Blair become Council president, Britain's prime-minister-in-waiting David Cameron – a noted opponent of the Lisbon Treaty – would be confronted with the unenviable prospect of not only having a Labour commissioner in situ in Brussels, but being forced to sit with other EU leaders at meetings chaired by Blair, the British Conservatives' arch-nemesis who defeated his party at three consecutive elections.
If, following an Irish 'yes', the remaining countries that have yet to fully ratify the Lisbon Treaty do so over the coming weeks, it is expected that a final decision on the new president will be made at the EU summit on 29-30 October.
