As Britain's prime minister, Tony Blair made plenty of enemies in Europe. Back in 2003, he broke ranks by siding with America over the Iraq War. And despite his avowed enthusiasm for the EU, he showed little practical commitment to closer integration. So why is Blair now a frontrunner for European president, a post that will be created if the Irish ratify the Lisbon Treaty this fall? The British government has given him its support. Italy is keen, too. Even France and Germany seem ready to accept a British president.
Blair's new popularity lies in a changing Europe. In the past, the EU has filled top posts with mediocre candidates, chosen after months of horse-trading between member states. But the new president will be Europe's chief spokesman and mediator, and will need all the charisma that Blair exudes. Besides, Blair has some handy credentials: He speaks French. He's a socialist--a useful gesture to the left--yet his pro-market sympathies mean he won't offend conservatives. Paradoxically, his strongest qualification could be his nationality. How better to allay British skepticism of Europe than by putting a Brit at its head?
