EU Prepares to Reject a Blair Presidency

BRUSSELS -- The odds against former British Prime Minister Tony Blair becoming the first president of the European Union appear to have lengthened over the past month with a series of blows to his candidacy at home and abroad.

Mr. Blair remains the most prominent figure linked by diplomats to the leadership post which, together with the post of a new EU foreign policy chief, will be created by the Lisbon Treaty. The treaty is designed to speed up decision making in the 27-nation grouping and increase its influence in world affairs.

But the winds have been blowing against Mr. Blair in recent weeks, with EU governments coming out in increasing numbers -- though sometimes in code -- suggesting they oppose Mr. Blair for the job.

Formal negotiations on who should fill the top job are unlikely to begin until at least next month, European officials say, because the treaty has been held up awaiting ratification by the Czech Republic.

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