Bruton emphasises his track record

FORMER TAOISEACH and former EU ambassador to Washington John Bruton said last night that “canvassing was not an issue” in his bid to become president of the EU .

Canvassing, he felt, “would be counter-productive”, not least since among those he would be expected to canvass were likely to be other, as yet undeclared, contenders for the post.

Instead, he had “spoken to people and let them know” of his availability for the post. He had done so “principally through diplomatic channels, as one of the serving people who was available and had the qualifications”.

He was conscious that the job would require consensus-building skills across the whole breadth of the political spectrum from left to right. His own track record as taoiseach of a three-party coalition with its range of political positions, especially, illustrated that he had such skills.

Further, as a member of the nine-person presidium of the European Convention which drew up the treaty/constitution that created the position of president, he felt he had a particularly good understanding of its design and purpose.

Ultimately, it would come down to “a decision by 27 people made privately. But all will have to be happy with the decision. The (European) Council operates by consensus, effectively unanimity. There can be no deeply dissaffected minority,” he said.

He was happy with the support he had received from the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, the leader of the Fine Gael party, Enda Kenny, and from the European Peoples Party, whose president was the first person he had let know of his decision. He has “no plans as of now” should he not succeed in becoming EU president.