New drop out in EU race to the top

Former Belgian leader Jean-Luc Dehaene has dropped out of the race for the EU’s top job.

Dehaene, who failed in a bid to be European Commission president in 1993, has dropped out to avoid a ‘re-run’ tag.

“Remakes are the worst kind of movie,” he told journalists on Tuesday. “I think people shouldn't play such movies.”

His move follows last week's announcement by the hotly tipped Luxembourg leader Claude Juncker that he was focusing on a June general election, a poll that he is expected to win.

Juncker's candidacy for the top Brussels job was smiled upon in Paris and Berlin.

Names still in the frame

Antonio Vitorino – The Portuguese justice commissioner is London’s preference. France and Germany are not keen, as the left winger is regarded as too close to Tony Blair. Even if he doesn’t clinch the top job, Vitorino will be back.

Pat Cox – the liberal European Parliament president has upped his profile for a bid at the commission’s top job. But some leaders regard him as too EU institutionalised. Cox must also face off current Irish health commissioner David Byrne. The ambitious former Dublin attorney general is planning a November Brussels comeback as EU justice chief.

Costas Simitis – The former socialist Greek PM has cast iron pro-EU credentials and respect across Europe. His handling of the EU presidency as deep European splits over Iraq emerged has been praised.

Wolfgang Schussel – the right wing Austrian chancellor faces an insurmountable hurdle, say diplomats. His French is not up to scratch, an “absolute” Paris requirement.

Guy Verhofstadt – the current Belgian PM, a liberal, is well respected across EU capitals. But after his strong anti-war stance on Iraq Washington is not a fan, and with EU-US relations high on the agenda this will rule him out, say sympathetic sources.

Paavo Lipponen – another jobless national leader, the Finn is up for any of the Brussels posts this November. Germany may smile on the social democrat but France is not keen on the idea of a Nordic EU chief.

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