Former Latvian President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga candidacy was considered a long-shot by many analysts.
BRUSSELS — Former Latvian President Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga lost her bid to become president of the European Council Thursday evening after a meeting between the leaders of the 27 EU-member states.
Instead the Council appointed current Belgian Prime Minister Herman Van Rompuy, a rather low-profile choice, to the position. Meanwhile the European Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton of Britain was appointed to the EU’s foreign policy post. The vote count among Council members has not been revealed yet.
Van Rompuy highlighted the importance of each member states’ individuality during a press conference following his appointment.
“Even if unity remains our strength, our diversity remains our wealth,” Van Rompuy said in a prepared statement. “Our journey may be toward a common destination but we will all bring along different luggage. Denying this would be counter-productive. Without respecting our diversity, we will never build on our unity. I will always bear this principle in mind.”
Democratic deficit criticized
The decision was made behind closed doors, a process Vīķe-Freiberga compared to the U.S.S.R. a week ago. “The European Union should stop working like the former Soviet Union,” she told the press.
Vīķe-Freiberga was the only person to publicly declare her candidacy.
The appointment of Van Rompuy could anger some in Eastern Europe after it was revealed earlier this week that he was the compromise candidate Germany and France agreed upon. Various anonymous EU and national government officials have been quoted in the European press saying a negative reaction in Britain and Eastern Europe should be expected.
Van Rompuy will step down as Belgian prime minister at the end of the month. Exactly what Van Rompuy’s duties during his upcoming two-and-a-half year term in his new position are still being determined, described tersely on the Council’s website as “preparing and chairing the European Council’s meetings and assuring the continuity of its work. He will also represent the EU on the international stage.”
