THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: BRUSSELS -- The odds against former British Prime Minister Tony Blair becoming the first president of the European Union appear to have lengthened.
Mr. Blair is the most prominent figure linked by diplomats to the post which, together with the job of a new EU foreign policy chief, will be created by the so-called Lisbon Treaty. The pact is designed to increase the 27-nation grouping's influence in world affairs.
Formal negotiations on who should fill the top job are unlikely to begin until at least next month, European officials say, because the treaty has been held up awaiting ratification by the Czech Republic.
Leaders of the European Parliament decided Thursday to hold a debate on Nov. 11 over whether the president should be a bureaucrat or a figurehead. The eventual candidate will be chosen by national leaders and must be confirmed by Parliament.
Mr. Blair's spokesman denied he is campaigning for the job. "As we have said time and again on this, there is nothing to be a candidate for, since the job doesn't actually exist," he said.
The winds have been blowing against Mr. Blair in recent weeks. When asked last week whether Mr. Blair would be a good candidate, French President Nicolas Sarkozy -- hitherto an apparent strong supporter -- said it was too early to say. >>> Stephen Fidler | Friday, October 2009
