Financial Times FT.com

Juncker takes on Blair for EU presidency

By Tony Barber in Luxembourg

Published: October 27 2009 11:43 | Last updated: October 27 2009 11:43

Tony Blair, the former UK prime minister, on Tuesday faced his first unofficial challenger for the European Union’s presidency after Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg’s prime minister, indicated he was willing to take the job.

“If I were asked, I wouldn’t have any reason to refuse to listen,” Mr Juncker told the French newspaper Le Monde in an interview.

Jean-Claude Juncker told Le Monde: "I am not a dwarf. Contrary to what the British press says, I have friendly relations with Vladimir Putin. And I have known the Chinese leaders for a long time."

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