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EU: Human rights: why Tony Blair is unfit to lead Europe
Tagged As: UK, UN, Democracy, Surveillance, War, Liberty, Iraq, EU President, European Union, Tony Blair
There are rumours in the air. Tony Blair might be the candidate for the new position as EU president if the ratification process of the Lisbon Treaty is to have a happy ending.
The powers and the responsibilities of the EU President are still to be specified, but yesterday Glenys Kinnock announced that: “The UK government is supporting Tony Blair’s candidature for president of the council”.
This is not the place to discuss Mr. Blair political achievements and results. Time and a proper space for consideration will tell.
There is only one issue that a human rights journal must raise: if the European Union is founded on the principles of “liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and rule of law” (art. 6 of Treaty on European Union), Mr. Blair is unfit for the job. The European Union needs a President that can speak truth to power: the current vogue of Eurosceptiscim will not be otherwise overcome.
Besides the role that Blair’s New Labour played in the escalation of the U.K. surveillance society, we must also remember what Prof. Philippe Sands has widely shown in his publications: Mr. Blair has been a liar and skewed information on the Iraqi war.
Public confidence in the European institution is not going to be restored by appointing a former prime minister who has been able to lie on such an important issue.
Denis McShane is plainly wrong: Tony Blair is not a good choice.
This won’t be a happy ending - it will be a tragedy.
4 Comments:
I have my doubts that even the greatest human being installed as the President of the EU could restore confidence in the EU institutions. A British president might at least decrease scepticism in the UK. Furthermore, a cynical might argue that Blair is just the perfect President to represent the EU.
Good article, Pasquale.
He’d surely have America’s backing, but this could actually be to his detriment with many people for rather obvious reasons.
And will the UK Government still be backing his candidacy after the next general election?
My nomination for the role would be Paddy Ashdown.
For an excellent review of Blair’s civil rights curriculum watch “Taking Liberties” on the Channel 4 Player: [http://www.channel4.com/programmes/takin...].
Any former Head of State who knowingly mislead (read: lied) to the public over taking the country to war; introduced legislation which restricts civil liberties and infringes upon human rights; increased social inequality; and is a failure as Middle East peace envoy, should not be rewarded with a Presidency.
Surely its that clear.