NOMINATION OF THE FIRST PRESIDENT OF THE E U

So much secrecy surrounds the choice this evening of who will be the first President of the European Union, after the steamrollered adoption of the Lisbon Treaty, that hardly anyone knows who is on the list of candidates.

This is a cloak and dagger operation led by politicians who are not elected Members of the European Parliament, but who are, however, with all due respect, leaders in their respective countries. However, the unknown candidates, who are not MEP's either, are manoeuvering for a very powerful and important position.

One of these faceless candidates is going to be pulled out of the magicians' collective hat to become European President for two and a half years. Contrary to normal practices, before his appointment we do not know what his avowed intentions for the future of the E U are. It goes without saying that candidates are certainly making costly promises which the E U, ultimately, will be encouraged to adopt.

These practices fly in the face of all the principles which have become accepted standards during the last two or three hundred years. The people who run the E U should be elected on their avowed election programme, and MEP's from their midst should elect their President.

The E U organisation should not become the Gravy Train for the outplacement of unelected Personalities. Such intentions should be rendered impossible by further changes to the E U Constitution.