With friends like that…

Firm in his resolution and in spite of the consequences, the Czech Republic president, Václav Klaus, has not signed yet the Lisbon Treaty. He has demanded new “opt-outs” to prevent Germans expelled from the Czech Sudeten region after World War II from reclaiming their property. Unfortunately and until the Czech signature, the work on planned new institutions such as the creation of the EU President post cannot be completed. There is though an European leader, Silvio Berlusconi of Italy, that even with all the problems he has in his own country has endorsed his preferred candidate for the European presidency. He has backed Tony Blair, his “old friend” from the times of President Bush and the Iraq war. In an open letter to Il Foglio he wrote: “Tony Blair has everything it takes to become the first President of the European Council. My government and I will work to ensure we do not lose a great political legacy, made with courage, equilibrium and prudence without uncertainty.” It would be interesting to know what Blair thought of this endorsement. He probably was dreading it. The nightmare would be completed if ex President Aznar from Spain would endorse him as well.