Vote for the first EU president
Next week the decision about who will be the first permanent president of the European Union will be made. Now that all 27 member states have ratified the Lisbon Treaty, it is time to scramble for the political top positions.
EU leaders will meet in Brussels on November 19 to appoint the president of the European Council and the High Representative for foreign affairs. The socialist group in European parliament has claimed the ‘foreign minister’ position, which makes it more than likely the job of president will be filled by someone from the Christian democrat political family.
Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende is a popular contestant, but his Belgian counterpart Herman Van Rompuy seems the man to beat. However, Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg is not out of the race yet, and neither is former Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel.
As there is no public election for the new positions, we would like to ask you here how you feel about the picking of the EU president? Do you have a favourite candidate and can you tell us why?
Saturday 14 November 2009, 11:42
Mr. Balkenende, of course, as it would be a great honour indeed for the Netherlands!
Saturday 14 November 2009, 20:07
Prime Minister Jan Peter Balekenende is the most suitable candidate to become the first President of the EU. He is my favourite candidate for the two reasons:
1. He is a man of extra ordinary human qualities and moral integrity being honest,sincere,polite,humble politician who have the ‘Global Vision’and not only that he is a qualified person having proven track record of his organizational abilities. Non of the other contestants can compete all of these qualities. The role of the EU President is going to be as a ‘Global Player’,that’s why EU needs someone who can win the harts and minds of the Global Leaders regarding the global issues. Above all he is a practicing Christian who knows ‘Jesus Scarified for the mankind’,and Mr.Balkenende have the potential to be accepted by the followers of all other religions. Its equally important for the member states of the EU to have him at the top because of the ever increasing role of the EU at the global level, while the world is facing more and more conflicts,wars,poverty.
2. Since the start of the EU Netherlands have been playing remarkable role in the Union (please see the Dutch financial contribution and all other constructive support for the growth of the EU). Netherlands deserve the top post by all means and I hope the majority of the member states realize this during the election process!
Few days back I attended the “European Lecture 2009″ here in the city of The Hague, where I could listen a wonderful speech of our prime minister Mr.Jan Peter Balkenende. He could prove himself A Qualified European Leader having vast knowledge of whats going on this planet.He is the one who can justify with the post and he is the one who have knows how to develop the EU for the future role on this globe.
Just after the lecture I had the honor to speak to him, in which I told him that “as a Dutch national I was extremely disappointed about the facts that a ‘very little’have been done in case of lobbying through different institutions and the media while he had very strong chances to be elected”, he very kindly told me that ” he is still a strong candidate and efforts are going on”.
At the end I would love to thank the NRC Handelsblad for providing a chance to comment on the ‘issue of our national interest’! Hoping that our print and electronic media among other opinion makers would support his candidacy as much its possible. The member states should respect the marvelous role of our country by giving a chance to our prime minister!!
Sunday 15 November 2009, 13:55
What Europe needs is a candidate who knows the foreign leaders, can deal effectively with Washington and Beijng, and has the clout to be recognized by Europeans as their leader at European level. I am afraid that none of the candidates you mention fulfill these criteria. A missed opportunity for Europe.
Monday 16 November 2009, 12:53
A man of Mr Balkenende’s stature surely doesn’t want to escape, now that he has a chance to have his own slate cleaned by the Iraq war investigation in the Netherlands?
So let us have a woman instead. Why not the former Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga?
Tuesday 17 November 2009, 22:06
Jan Peter Balkenende is the worst prime minister the Dutch has ever had.
Our country is in chaos.
Check it out, ask the Dutch.
A women will be beter instead.
Thursday 19 November 2009, 18:34
javer solana
Sunday 29 November 2009, 20:07
Once again, Europe chooses a compromise candidate (the Prime Minster of Belgium). It all becomes clearer each day–Europe has had its chance in recent human history and it will be centuries before that chance comes again (if ever). The four countries that will matter most over the next half century will be China, India, the United States and Brazil. Russia will be an energy powerhouse. But Europe will continue to, unfortunately ,wobble, trying to compromise on all issues and rewarding mediocrity. I am really beginning to think that the EU may not last as long as its founders may have expected.
Sunday 27 December 2009, 1:05
An online petition has been launched calling for the election of European Union Presidents. Vist http://electthepresident.eu for more info.