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Subject: President of Europe
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Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy appears to be the frontrunner to be chosen as the EU's first permanent president at a summit in Brussels on Thursday.
The centre-right leader has a reputation as a good negotiator with a self-deprecating sense of humour, which has helped him to hold together a fractious coalition government.
But if his candidacy is successful that may be bad news for the troubled coalition of Dutch- and French-speaking parties, which could fall apart without his careful stewardship.
In linguistically divided Belgium, he is seen as a unifying force, taking an even-handed approach to resolving conflicts - a skill that would serve him well if he secured the new top job.
The low-key leader appears to have the support of both France and Germany, yet the UK government wants former Prime Minister Tony Blair to get the job.
Mr Van Rompuy, 62, is little known outside Belgium and has attended only two European summits.
A veteran politician from the Flemish Christian Democrat party, he was originally reluctant to take on the post of prime minister. He replaced Yves Leterme, who resigned amid a financial scandal last December, after just nine months in the job.
Safe pair of hands
Riven by post-election squabbling, Belgium had already been through two prime ministers in 12 months and seemed in danger of splitting apart, due to the arguments over devolution plans between Dutch- and French-speaking parties.
Something of a moderate in Belgium's increasingly polarised politics, Mr Van Rompuy was eventually persuaded to take on the job by Belgian King Albert II.
He was appointed prime minister last December, having held the position of president of the lower house of parliament since July 2007.
Three waves roll
Along the harbour
The trio's home
EU Trio-presidency
Herman Van Rompuy haiku
EU president: Names in the frame
The trained economist inherited a fragile government coalition and a nation facing a global economic crisis that had crippled Belgian banking giant Fortis.
He had previously served as budget minister in the Christian Democrat-led government from 1993 to 1999, during which time he took a tough stance on balancing the books, drastically reducing the country's public debt.
Before that, Mr Van Rompuy was leader of the Flemish Christian Democrats between 1988 and 1993.
He has penned several books - mainly on social and political issues - and is also an avid blogger and haiku writer.
He is said to sometimes compose the 17-syllable Japanese-style poems during political meetings and has been known to read out his compositions at such gatherings.
One offering on Mr Van Rompuy's website is called EU Trio-presidency, but any message therein about his political ambitions is well concealed:
"Three waves roll
Along the harbour
The trio's home."
National pride
People on the streets of Brussels have mixed emotions about the prospect of their prime minister becoming Europe's figurehead.
Van Rompuy is seen in linguistically divided Belgium as a unifying force
A sense of national pride is countered by one of foreboding about how Belgium's government would cope without him.
A poll by Euronews found respondents in the capital reluctant to lose a peace-maker "indispensable in keeping the peace between the different communities".
"It would be a pity," said another. "It would mean political instability in Belgium. A good thing for Europe a bad thing for Belgium!"
Before entering politics, Herman Van Rompuy worked at the Belgian central bank from 1972 to 1975.
One of a family of politicians, his younger brother, Eric Van Rompuy, is also a politician for the CD&V, while his sister, Christine Van Rompuy, is a member of the Workers Party of Belgium.
Go Herman!
The centre-right leader has a reputation as a good negotiator with a self-deprecating sense of humour, which has helped him to hold together a fractious coalition government.
But if his candidacy is successful that may be bad news for the troubled coalition of Dutch- and French-speaking parties, which could fall apart without his careful stewardship.
In linguistically divided Belgium, he is seen as a unifying force, taking an even-handed approach to resolving conflicts - a skill that would serve him well if he secured the new top job.
The low-key leader appears to have the support of both France and Germany, yet the UK government wants former Prime Minister Tony Blair to get the job.
Mr Van Rompuy, 62, is little known outside Belgium and has attended only two European summits.
A veteran politician from the Flemish Christian Democrat party, he was originally reluctant to take on the post of prime minister. He replaced Yves Leterme, who resigned amid a financial scandal last December, after just nine months in the job.
Safe pair of hands
Riven by post-election squabbling, Belgium had already been through two prime ministers in 12 months and seemed in danger of splitting apart, due to the arguments over devolution plans between Dutch- and French-speaking parties.
Something of a moderate in Belgium's increasingly polarised politics, Mr Van Rompuy was eventually persuaded to take on the job by Belgian King Albert II.
He was appointed prime minister last December, having held the position of president of the lower house of parliament since July 2007.
Three waves roll
Along the harbour
The trio's home
EU Trio-presidency
Herman Van Rompuy haiku
EU president: Names in the frame
The trained economist inherited a fragile government coalition and a nation facing a global economic crisis that had crippled Belgian banking giant Fortis.
He had previously served as budget minister in the Christian Democrat-led government from 1993 to 1999, during which time he took a tough stance on balancing the books, drastically reducing the country's public debt.
Before that, Mr Van Rompuy was leader of the Flemish Christian Democrats between 1988 and 1993.
He has penned several books - mainly on social and political issues - and is also an avid blogger and haiku writer.
He is said to sometimes compose the 17-syllable Japanese-style poems during political meetings and has been known to read out his compositions at such gatherings.
One offering on Mr Van Rompuy's website is called EU Trio-presidency, but any message therein about his political ambitions is well concealed:
"Three waves roll
Along the harbour
The trio's home."
National pride
People on the streets of Brussels have mixed emotions about the prospect of their prime minister becoming Europe's figurehead.
Van Rompuy is seen in linguistically divided Belgium as a unifying force
A sense of national pride is countered by one of foreboding about how Belgium's government would cope without him.
A poll by Euronews found respondents in the capital reluctant to lose a peace-maker "indispensable in keeping the peace between the different communities".
"It would be a pity," said another. "It would mean political instability in Belgium. A good thing for Europe a bad thing for Belgium!"
Before entering politics, Herman Van Rompuy worked at the Belgian central bank from 1972 to 1975.
One of a family of politicians, his younger brother, Eric Van Rompuy, is also a politician for the CD&V, while his sister, Christine Van Rompuy, is a member of the Workers Party of Belgium.
Go Herman!
I'm Belgian too, and I couldn't care less. Another one of our pathetic ministers tries to make it in Europe, while we've got tons of problems to solve in Belgium. I'm losing my faith in democracy here.
the rest of europe?
yano, the ones that asked their citizens if they wanted to be all one big happy state and said yes
yano, the ones that asked their citizens if they wanted to be all one big happy state and said yes
It's stupid. Both the Dutch and Belgian media have claimed their prime ministers to be front runners (the Dutch apparently are over it) for the position of the president of the European Union, neither of them are and neither of them will become the European Union's first president.
Stupid media hype -1
Stupid media hype -1
Well. It's know in this far kingdoms of Latinoamerica the Englands isn't too into the EU.
hahahaha @ the conspiracy theories in british newpapers :)
btw, if there anyone who can still tell what the specific responsibilities are of all the head honcho's in the EU? Barosso, the presidencies of the nations (every 6 months), Buzek, now Van Rompuy and that British woman?
(edited)
btw, if there anyone who can still tell what the specific responsibilities are of all the head honcho's in the EU? Barosso, the presidencies of the nations (every 6 months), Buzek, now Van Rompuy and that British woman?
(edited)
haha wow the president of the EU...he's now kinda king and we're all slaves?
no seriously this is stupid
no seriously this is stupid
I like more the: The Presidents of the United States of America. What they tell is really important.
I will show you.
The Presidents of the United States of America
I will show you.
The Presidents of the United States of America
i knew that band, listened that song when i was 14 ( im now 28 )
