EU President - Who cares?
May 8, 2008
Danish PM Anders Fogh Rasmussen is maybe not discrete enough to position himself as a coming EU President, according to The Economist.
A majority of the Danes thinks the Prime Minister is going for an international top job in either EU or NATO. But I don´t think The Economist has got a correct understanding of Danish politics, since the author believes that Danish voters would prioritize a prime ministers career or short term advantages higher than their national currency and sovereignty.
The man on the street really don´t care about who is on the throne in Brussels. And the “far right” (Danish People´s Party) has had an excellent cooperation with Anders Fogh Rasmussen since 2001. Why should they want him replaced? Only the parties on the far left (communists and socialists) has an interest in getting rid of a succesful right wing leader.
The Economist: When loose talk may cost a top job
Many pundits think he plans an autumn referendum, maybe as soon as September. The polls give him a chance. One from Greens Analyseinstitut in April had 55% of voters for joining the euro and only 38% against. Public opinion also favours scrapping the other opt-outs. Yet 16 years after their first rejection of the Maastricht treaty, there is a rump of opposition to the euro in Denmark, especially on the far left and far right. Oddly, this could work in the prime minister’s favour. Anti-Rasmussen voters may reason that a vote for the euro would enhance his candidacy for the EU job and hasten his departure. A case of yes euro, no prime minister?
