And the first ever European President is... Who?

[oggbashan]

The leaders of the 27 European Union countries have decided who their new President is: Who?

And their Foreign Secretary (US equivalent Secretary of State) is Baroness Ashton. Who?

Why? Even the Belgians aren't sure who their President is. Now 27 countries are sharing the Belgians' puzzlement.

Are either of them likely to be seen as equals by President Obama or Prime Minister Putin?

Og

 

[Huckleman2000]

The leaders of the 27 European Union countries have decided who their new President is: Who?

And their Foreign Secretary (US equivalent Secretary of State) is Baroness Ashton. Who?

Why? Even the Belgians aren't sure who their President is. Now 27 countries are sharing the Belgians' puzzlement.

Are either of them likely to be seen as equals by President Obama or Prime Minister Putin?

Og

The Foreign Sec's name sounds like a limited-edition collectible doll. "Also available: Duchess Penelope!"

 

[voluptuary_manque]

The leaders of the 27 European Union countries have decided who their new President is: Who?

And their Foreign Secretary (US equivalent Secretary of State) is Baroness Ashton. Who?

Why? Even the Belgians aren't sure who their President is. Now 27 countries are sharing the Belgians' puzzlement.

Are either of them likely to be seen as equals by President Obama or Prime Minister Putin?

Og

The EU has finally shown the world how important it really is.

 

[Handley_Page]

The EU has finally shown the world how important it really is.

Well, not quite.
It has shown that a definite ego exists in the minds of Merkel & Sarkosy, who really do not want their authority subsumed.
Load of soapsuds!

 

[Liar]

Are either of them likely to be seen as equals by President Obama or Prime Minister Putin?

Og

Why should they be? They are not in charge of a big-ass nation. They are the political coordinator for 27 sovereign nations. 27 identities, 27 economies (despite furious attempt to merge them), as many languages or more, and a subcontinent of people who don't really care for an all emcompassing father figure, whoever it might be.

 

[Dragonlipz]

I was a tad skeptical about the 'consolidation' of the EU rant that was circulating about ten years ago when I visited the continent and 'merry old' on a bi-monthly basis.....it was good energy and great tavern talk...not nearly as good tavern talk as the fun being made of a certain Republican presidential candidate at the time....but a lot of fun, nonetheless......
I mean, my relatives in Italia laughed when they discussed 'joining' the EU....they would have rather vote for Bush, I think.....maybe some of them did....they all liked the Big B.....

 

[driphoney]

As long as "the treaty is vague" as the article says, about the role of the president, he won't be, to answer Ogg's question. The second the EU and the presidency is perceived to have or takes real power, he/she will be the biggest person in the room.


This doesn't qualify for 'pollitical' does it? Cause I don't do political here!

 

[TE999]

I notice the EU President's role isn't clearly defined by the treaty, which lends itself to all sorts of possibilities.

 

[Weird Harold]

The leaders of the 27 European Union countries have decided who their new President is: Who?

And their Foreign Secretary (US equivalent Secretary of State) is Baroness Ashton. Who?

The Foreign Secretary should be "What?" and thenyou could just plug the whole EU government structure into the old Abbot & Costello routine.

 

[The_Fool]

The Foreign Secretary should be "What?" and thenyou could just plug the whole EU government structure into the old Abbot & Costello routine.

I don't know is on third.

 

[rgraham666]

She can't be all bad. She has a Dalek in her living room.

 

[3113]

The leaders of the 27 European Union countries have decided who their new PresAre either of them likely to be seen as equals by President Obama or Prime Minister Putin

The EU has finally shown the world how important it really is.

you could just plug the whole EU government structure into the old Abbot & Costello routine.

Back in the late 18th century/early 19th century the U.S. government looked pretty much the same to the rest of the world. Hap-hazard, no real unity between the states (they might as well have been different countries--they even had a similar problem with the economies and the value of the money state to state), bickering, confusion, and with a government that most of Europe thought was a joke. It had no power, it had no influence, it had nothing. The president was hardly a match to the King of England or Tsar of Russia. And most of the world laughed at the pathetic new government and thought it wouldn't last a year.

And, in truth, that government was very much a leaky boat that almost sunk on several occasions.

Maybe the EU will end up being nothing but a joke. And its leaders the butt of that joke. It could very well sink. But given the historical example of the nation I live in, I think it would be a little hypocritical of me to say that any other group of "states" trying to create some sort of unity while remaining autonomous can't develop into something that might, in the future, be taken seriously. Even if they do fumble like the keystone cops along the way.

Here's to the new president. I hope that in a year's time, we won't all be asking "Who" they are. We'll know and be glad that they're at the helm of this particular union.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

The difference between the early 19th C. U.S. and the current version can be summed up in one name, Lincoln. He emerged as a near-dictatorial giant of a figure that enhanced the power of his office due to his role as CIC in the Civil War. Since such an event is highly unlikely in Europe, there is only the barest of probabilities that the EU president will ever be more than a figurehead. Opportunity will never knock.