Brussels - Former socialist premier Felipe Gonzalez of Spain has ruled himself out of the running for Mr Europe, a new post created by the impending Lisbon Treaty. "It would be an honour, but I will not be a candidate," Gonzalez said in a video interview featuring Tuesday on the Financial Times' website.
Gonzalez, who currently heads a "reflection group" of European personalities tasked with discussing the EU's long-term future, was asked to comment on reports that he was a front-runner for the job.
Other frequently cited contenders include former British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Asked to rate Blair's chances, Gonzalez said that while his colleague has "a strong personality", working against him is the fact that Britain is frequently viewed in Brussels as a reluctant EU member, having opted out of the bloc's single currency zone and several other common EU policies.
The post of EU president, or "Mr Europe", was created by the Lisbon Treaty, a text that aims to simplify the EU's decision-making process and give the bloc a stronger voice on the world stage.
It would replace the current system of rotating presidencies, in which member states take turns to chair EU meetings for six months at a time, with a permanent presidency lasting 30 months.
While EU governments agreed on creating the post, they have yet to define its exact role.
The Lisbon Treaty cannot not come into force until it has been ratified by all 27 EU member states. The ratification process has yet to be formally completed in Germany, Poland, Czech Republic and in Ireland, which holds a second referendum on its desirability on October 2. Irish voters rejected the text in a similar vote held in June 2008.
In the interview with the Financial Times, Gonzalez called on EU national governments to favour unity over national interests and to step up efforts to encourage US-style entrepreneurship.
