Before the end of this year, the European Union should have a President, elected for 2.5 years.
One of the most pronounced names for the job is that of the former British prime minister, Tony Blair, supported by the French President, Nicolas Sarkozy.
But two other French leaders - Edouard Balladur (the former conservative French prime minister, close to Mr Sarkozy) and Valérie Giscard d’Estaing (former French president and the father of the now defunct EU constitutional treaty) expressed their opinion that Europe’s first president must have majority support from his home country, which should be a nation that respects all its European commitments. Something that Britain might not be doing for the time being.

“Tony Blair cannot be president of Europe,” writes Edouard Balladur in Le Monde . Despite his declarations of good intent, for 10 years, Mr. Blair did almost nothing to put an end to Britain’s special statu, with its opt-outs in the fields of justice and home affairs, non-membership of the euro - area and of the border-free Schengen zone. Moreover, says he, Mr Blair is far too close to America to build an independent Europe.

I might add that if Tony Blair would accept the post, he will have to give up his job at J. P. Morgan, an US-based investment bank (with a salary of around £2 million per year). He would also have to drop his diplomatic role as a Middle East envoy on behalf of western nations.
Besides, Mr. Blair is the subject of an war crimes investigation on the deaths of Iraqi citizens killed during the armed invasion and occupation of Iraq (strange that the mass media did not cover this issue according to its importance, but that’s my opinion. And an ‘innocent’ question: will Basescu follow? since he is the strongest and most vocal Romanian supporter of the Iraqi invasion. Yeah, let’s move on).
There is also an on-line petition agains Blair’s nominalization at www.stopblair.eu, and if we remember the “cash for honours” scandal, we undestand why Mr. Blair is not suitable to become the first EU president.

Other two possible candidates are the prime minister of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Juncker, a declared believer in a ‘United States of Europe’ and Bertie Ahern, the Irish prime minister. For now.

Something tells me that the recent outburst of the communications commissioner Margot Wallstrom will have some consequencies, at least the debates regarding the election of an EU president will be a little more transparent than before.

One of the most enthusiastic European officials, the communications commissioner Margot Wallstrom has said she is fed up with the “reign of old men” in Brussels.

“An inner circle of male decision-makers agree behind closed doors on whom to nominate to EU top jobs,”

“It is incredible that only men have been mentioned in the discussions, and that it is all discussed behind the scenes”

“It is very bad for public opinion. The people see male politicians scheming behind closed doors, and that old men choose old men, as always”

“Just look at the ‘family photos’ at the EU summits. It’s almost all only men that are lined up. Gee, humanity consists of fifty per cent women!

Wow, she’s angry! Of course she’s right, but what should we, the common people, think about the shiny programs of the EU against the women discrimination, since the women are discriminated at the very top of the EU?

All this craziness regarding the xenophobic campaign against Romanian citizens in Italy happened to have even a benefic outcome: the far-right group of in European Parliament - The Identity, Tradition and Sovereignty (ITS) has been finally dissolved. The Romanian MEPs leaved the group, after Alessandra Mussolini’s comments, granddaughter of former fascist leader Benito Mussolini.

Many MEPs welcomed the group’s dissolution:

“We are happy that this group, which does not belong in European democracy, has been dissolved”, [ …] ultranationalists” […] no longer use European taxpayers money to support “xenophobia and neo-fascism”.

(Socialist leader MEP Martin Schulz)

ITS’s “inherent radical nationalism” made its implosion inevitable, […] “they are a casualty of their own philosophy, which […] encourages xenophobic and racist comments […] which have no place in the European Union”.

(Liberal democrat group leader MEP Graham Watson)

“a welcome blow to the prejudice and bigotry” it promoted, […] “united only by hatred […] it was only a matter of time before they succumbed to a hatred of each other as well”. […] “great news for the European Parliament and the fundamental and democratic values of tolerance on which the EU is built”. “We must now […] try and convince those voters who supported these candidates to change their minds at the next European elections.”

(Green MEP Jean Lambert)

Later edit: Well, I’m not the only one who tries to see the full half of the glass. Still … it could be another way. Maybe…. someday.

Traian Basescu decorated today three Rroma - Dumitru Tranca, Traian Grancea and Ion Minutescu - that, during the second World War, have been deported in Transnistria.
He read few words in their own language, something like this:

Please excuse us, dear brothers and sisters, for what was in the past, and we will build together a beautiful future for Romania.

Oh, yeah, Mr. President, it’s a long way from ’stinky gipsy’ to ‘dear brothers and sisters’.

He also said that Rroma are the most discriminated minority in Europe, asking for an European policy for them.