The Guardian has a piece about Blair and the EU presidency.
Our Tone might face some obstacles…
These are: a petition, which has so far attracted 41,326 signatures saying that it would be wrong to appoint a man who allegedly violated international law in the Iraq war; the implacable opposition of the Tories, who have warned EU leaders that appointing Blair would be seen as a hostile act in Britain; strong opposition from smaller EU member states, who fear that such a high profile figure would eclipse them; and a concern across the EU that it would be wrong to appoint someone from the most reluctant member of the EU.
But is still considered, by many, the favourite. Although he isn’t making life easy for himself by refuse to campaign. This refusal, the article says, is because he is worried about getting a humiliating slap down and also…
“It will be decided in horse trading over the coming weeks,” one Blair ally said. “This will all take place behind closed doors.”
Blair believes this is why it would be wrong to campaign. “This is a very odd election,” one ally said. “It will be decided by 27 people. This is not something that can be won by running a campaign.”
Not really an election, is it? More of an appointment, wouldn’t you say?
Is it really too much to ask for a little bit of democracy and, if we must have a president, let the people decide who it should be?
But it’s not about democracy, is it? I’m buggered if I know what it is about, but democracy it isn’t.
I’m glad a mainstream news agency calls Blair out on the war crimes thing.
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Mark Steel hits the nail on the head again, too.
Also, sorry your comment didn’t appear straight away. Dunno why, but I had to approve it.