González favored to become first EU President

Former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe González has received backing to become the European Union's first permanent president, should the Lisbon Treaty come into force by the end of the year. Javier Solana, the High Representative for the European Common, Foreign and Security Policy, gave the socialist politician his backing for the new role at a press conference in Brussels. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has also expressed approval of the nomination, favouring González over former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whom he views as "not having done anything" in his current role as Special Envoy to the Middle East for the Quartet. José Manuel Barroso, from Portugal, is expected to be reconfirmed as head of the European Commission for the next five years. Solana had been tipped to become the EU's first foreign minister, but his term as High...............

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