COMMENT Now that, regrettably, the Lisbon treaty is in force, media attention turns to every politician and commentator’s favourite parlour game: who gets which top job. Yet this game’s resolution will have important consequences – the character and views of the successful candidates will help shape the European Union’s institutions and policies for years to come.
The UK government’s chief goal so far has been to promote Tony Blair’s candidacy for the presidency of the Council. In fairness to prime minister Gordon Brown, his diminished authority has left him so dependent on Peter Mandelson – the man who helped create New Labour – that he may have had little choice but to advocate his old rival’s interests. Nevertheless, addiction to the personality soap opera that has defined New Labour has led ministers to commit the blunder of asking “who” before thinking through the “why” and the “what”.
