The race for the presidency of the European Commission and for that of the Council – a job that will only come into existence if the Lisbon treaty comes into force – are in full swing.
José Manuel Barroso is still expected to snatch a second five-year term at the Commission, though a quick approval vote in the Parliament looks less likely after resistance from the Socialists, Greens and others. Regardless, the Wall Street Journal assumes he will get the nod and urges him to return to his free-market roots. “The Greens and Socialists oppose Mr. Barroso’s re-election on the grounds that he is too oriented toward free trade and free markets. If only.”
The race for the permanent Council presidency is more open. Sweden’s Fredrik Reinfeldt, leading the EU under the current rotating model, said smaller countries were open to a less powerful model than is sometimes discussed. That’s bad news for Tony Blair, often associated with the job. And it looks like Sarkozy might prefer Felipe Gonzalez, the former Spanish PM, anyway.
President of the council: “President Blair”
Across the globe: Gideon Rachman and his FT colleagues debate international affairs on