Blair Returns with Plea for Labour to Be Pro-business
LONDON EVENING STANDARD: Tony Blair has made a return to British politics by giving private briefings to Labour MPs on the need to be pro- business.

After five years focusing on the Middle East and Africa, the former prime minister is said to be interested in shaping Labour's future thinking. Speaking at one meeting with seven Labour MPs, he said the party must fight from the centre ground and be seen as pro-businesss to be taken seriously. » | Joe Murphy, Political Editor | Monday, February 13, 2012

Tony Blair is like one of those bad pennies – it just keeps turning up! – © Mark

FDP's Joker Westerwelle Shapes up for Coalition with Merkel
THE LOCAL: Guido Westerwelle, who aims to become foreign minister in a new government under Chancellor Angela Merkel, has had to shake off his “joker” image to make it in the often staid world of German politics.

The head of Germany’s biggest opposition party used to make headlines for moving into TV’s Big Brother house for a few hours, painting his party’s election goal on the soles of his shoes, and coming out of the closet.

But the 47-year-old lawyer who was often the life and soul of the party has few laughing now. The FDP’s strength will likely decide whether Merkel can win re-election with her coalition of choice in the September 27 poll.

Westerwelle’s pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), frequent partners of the conservative Christian Democrats over half a century of post-war politics, are keen to play kingmakers again.

After 11 years in the political wilderness, Westerwelle has shaken off his at times foppish image and says he is ready to be the country’s first openly gay top diplomat.

Guido Westerwelle with his partner Michael Mronz
“Of course I made some mistakes when I was young but one grows older and wiser,” he told AFP in an interview earlier this year when asked about his more memorable publicity stunts.

“But the Germans seem to see us positively—otherwise they wouldn’t have given us one of the best results in our history at the last national election.”

Since that 9.8-percent score in 2005, the FDP has seen its support soar at times to within four points of the Social Democrats, Germany’s oldest political outfit and the junior partner in Merkel’s “grand coalition.” >>> AFP | Tuesday, September 22, 2009

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An Openly Gay German Foreign Minister? : Take that, Ahmadenijad >>> Julie Bolcer | Friday, September 25, 2009