Blair possible candidate for 'Prez of Europe'

London, Oct 21: Britain's former Prime Minister Tony Blair has emerged as a possible candidate for President of Europe, a new post created by the European Union (EU) leaders in the recent Lisbon summit.

The French President Nicolas Sarkozy who described Mr Blair as ''a very remarkable man'', suggested his name for the post, the independent reported.

The new treaty approved by the EU leaders scraps the current system under which one country holds the EU's rotating presidency for six months. It will be replaced by the appointment of a President, who will chair EU meetings, drive through its agenda and serve for two-and-a-half years.

Commenting on Mr Blair's possible candidature, Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown said, ''He would be a great candidate for any significant international job.'' ''As you know the work he is doing in the west Asia is something that is of huge international importance,'' he added.

Mr Brown, however, said it was premature to speculate on who might fill the post because the appointment would not be made until the treaty had been ratified by member states next year.

Some EU diplomats have predicted he would not secure enough support from member states as he is still remembered as the man who divided Europe by giving George Bush such strong backing for the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Other potential candidates for the post include the former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and the Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.

UNI