The former Prime Minister is favourite to take up the new post, which would be created if the European Constitution is ratified by all 27 EU member states.

The Times reported that French President Nicolas Sarkozy believes Mr Blair is the best man for the job, while the German Chancellor Angela Merkel is said to have softened her opposition.

Asked if Mr Blair was the only real candidate, French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner replied: "For the moment, indeed."

If the Irish vote “yes”, then the biggest obstacle in Mr Blair’s path would be the signatures of the Polish and Czech presidents in support of the Lisbon Treaty.

The former Labour leader could then be installed in the EU’s most senior post at a summit on October 29 if he receives the backing of EU leaders.

The former Prime Minister Tony Blair was told today he had "blood on his hands" by a bereaved father at a reception following a memorial service for those killed in Iraq.

Peter Brierley, whose son Lance Corporal Shaun Brierley, 28, was killed in March 2003, refused to shake Mr Blair's proffered hand and said: "I'm not shaking your hand, you've got blood on it."

The former prime minister was ushered away and afterwards Mr Brierley, from Batley, West Yorkshire, said: "I understand soldiers go to war and die but they have to go to war for a good reason and be properly equipped to fight."

He added: "I believe Tony Blair is a war criminal. I can't bear to be in the same room as him. I can't believe he's been allowed to come to this reception.

"I believe he's got the blood of my son and all of the other men and women who died out there on his hands.

"It comes back to me every day, every time I see a coffin come off a plane; it reminds me of what happened to Shaun."

Tony Blair's prospects of becoming the first EU President were fading last night despite a last-minute plea from Gordon Brown to Europe's leaders to "get real" and back his predecessor for the post.

A succession of countries cast doubt on Mr Blair's chances of winning enough support to be nominated as the first President of the European Council as a two-day EU summit opened in Brussels.

France and Germany, who could hold the key to the selection of the new President, also appeared to be cooling in their earlier enthusiasm for Mr Blair's candidacy.

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Yeah?... I'll only believe it when someone else for President is elected... Often the "hum and arrrhring" is to throw people of the real scent... So, see whotthappens... see whotthappens...

Blair’s Chances for Europe Presidency Said to Fade

By STEPHEN CASTLE

Britain is under pressure to abandon its campaign to install former Prime Minister Tony Blair in a new European Union presidential post and indicate whether it would instead put up a candidate for the job of foreign policy chief for the bloc.

With Herman Van Rompuy, the prime minister of Belgium, emerging as the front-runner for the post of president, the search continued for a senior figure from the center-left — to give political balance — for the foreign affairs post.

The center-left foreign minister of Spain, Miguel Ángel Moratinos, has emerged as a potential candidate for the foreign policy job, a post for which the former prime minister of Italy, Massimo D’Alema, had been mentioned.

Despite speculation that the foreign secretary of Britain, David Miliband, its business minister, Peter Mandelson, or the E.U. trade commissioner, Catherine Ashton, might be contenders, the British government is pushing Mr. Blair for the presidential post.

E.U. heads of government meet Thursday night to fill the top jobs created by the Lisbon Treaty, which is designed to streamline decision-making and increase the bloc’s global clout. But the task has proved complex — and a failure to agree smoothly about these top spots could prove embarrassing.

“There is a near consensus — though one in which London does not want to participate — that it cannot be Blair for the Council President job,” said Thomas Klau of the European Council on Foreign Relations.

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I will believe that Blair is not president of Yourp only when Blair is not elected president of Yourp...

Germany and France are to strike a deal on who they want for the coveted post of first permanent European council president, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced today, sparking anger in other European capitals over a feared Franco-German stitch-up.

With 27 EU leaders going into a special summit tomorrow increasingly at odds over the twin posts of European Council president and EU foreign minister, Merkel stated for the first time that she and the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, intended to agree on a common candidate, believed to be Herman Van Rompuy, the Belgian prime minister.

"Germany and France will reach an agreement together on this issue and not oppose each other," she said. "We are in contact on this ... I am optimistic that we will reach a result tomorrow."

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I will believe that Blair is not president of Yourp only when Blair is not elected president of Yourp...

EU leaders have chosen the Belgian Prime Minister, Herman van Rompuy, to be the first permanent European Council President.

The other top job created by the Lisbon Treaty - foreign affairs supremo - has gone to the EU Trade Commissioner, Baroness Catherine Ashton from the UK.

Both are seen as consensual politicians with limited foreign policy experience.

Both had unanimous backing from the 27 EU leaders at the summit in Brussels, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown said.

Earlier, the UK government said it was no longer pushing for former PM Tony Blair to get the presidency post.

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PHEW... See toon at top. and go to http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8363297.stm.

A British Eurosceptic MEP has unleashed a volley of insults against the President of the European Council.

Nigel Farage, who leads UK Independence Party (UKIP) MEPS in the European parliament, said Herman van Rompuy had "the charisma of a damp rag".

He compared the former Belgian prime minister to a "low-grade bank clerk" and said he came from a "non-country".

The attack, which stunned the chamber, came as Mr Von Rompuy made his maiden appearance in parliament in Brussels.

"I don't want to be rude," Mr Farage began, before launching into a personal attack lasting several minutes.

"Who are you? I'd never heard of you, nobody in Europe had ever heard of you," Mr Farage thundered, as noisy disapproval at his intervention in the chamber rose.

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Gus: yes, unlike Blair-the-warrior, Herman van Rompuy is more quiet and possibly less of a psychopath, less deceitful, less flamboyant but definitely more adept and hopefully has no blood on his hands... That is a great stature in a world that has been ruled by monsters such as Dicky, idiots like Bushie and liars like Tony... see toon at top.

The former British prime minister's pro-Remain comments come shortly after The Telegraph cited US National Security Advisor John Bolton as saying that Washington wanted London to "follow the course of what the people asked for and leave the EU".

Tony Blair, a vocal Remainer who has been open about his support of a second Brexit referendum, has lashed out at Leavers for giving up a "great alliance" with the European Union, slamming it as "an unbelievable act of self-denial".

"Britain has two strong alliances, it has a great alliance with America and it's part of the European Union, which is the biggest political union in the world and largest commercial market in the world. What on Earth would induce you to think that you're going to gain by giving up that relationship. It's an unbelievable act of self-denial. For me, it's just a very simple thing, power is power", he said.

 

Read more:

https://sputniknews.com/europe/201906011075530972-tony-blair-against-bre...

 

 

Read from top.

 

Blair is still reeling he did not get the European Presidency... Note that the UK CANNOT SERVE TWO MASTERS: The USA and Europe. It's time to make a choice. Read also:

http://www.yourdemocracy.net.au/drupal/node/35134

 

Oberon Le Blanc #FBPE #Repent #Rejoin #Rejoice@oberon_le

My daughter asked me:

“Daddy, how are we going to stop climate change and protect my children’s future?”

I smiled, hugged her and whispered:

“We’re going to pay Tony Blair millions, it’s the only way”


......

Tony Blair is set to earn millions of pounds advising an American businessman on how to make money from tackling climate change.

The former prime minister will be paid at least £700,000 a year to act as a "strategic adviser" to Khosla Ventures, a venture capitalist firm founded by Indian billionaire Vinod Khosla.

The Californian company bankrolls businesses hoping to profit from technology that helps reduce global warming and carbon emissions.

Mr Blair secured the job thanks to his "influence" and high level international contacts, whom he will be expected to lean on to open doors.

He has told friends he needs £5 million a year to fund his lifestyle. 

Khosla Ventures confirmed it was hiring him, but declined to confirm his salary, which was estimated by industry sources.

Khosla said that "with Tony's advice and influence we will create opportunities for entrepreneurs and innovators to devise practical solutions that can solve today's most pressing problems."

In a statement yesterday, Mr Blair said: "Solving the climate crisis is more than just a political agenda item; it's an urgent priority that requires innovation, creativity and ambition."

He has taken up several lucrative posts since leaving office three years ago. He has a £1 million deal to advise the ruling royal family of Kuwait and has been paid a £4.6 million advance for his memoirs.

Public speaking engagements, which earn him £100,000 a time, are estimated to have brought in another £9 million.

Read more:https://www.standard.co.uk/news/tony-blair-to-earn-millions-as-climate-change-adviser-6473759.html

Read from top.
Tony Blair should be in prison...