Commission Vice President Margot Wallström seems to be leading a one person campaign to get a woman to be chosen for one of the top 3 jobs up for grabs in 2009 in the EU – President of the European Council, President of the European Commission and EU Foreign Minister. She has written in Le Monde this week about the issue and the issue is followed up by Mark Mardell and The Economist. This is not a new idea from Wallström (we posted about it in February) but none of her suggested candidates have yet been mentioned on the rumour mill.
Wallström faces 3 problems in her efforts to get a woman into one of the top three positions. First of all the list of possible candidates is not that long – most national governments, and especially those of the largest 4 Member States, remain dominated by men. Merkel is the main exception to this, but her government is not exactly bursting with other women. Secondly, the debate about the top jobs is being conducted between national capitals rather than in an open and frank manner – so whatever Wallström says I fear no-one is listening. Thirdly, Blair (and possibly also Juncker, Rasmussen and Ahern, and Barroso for the Commission) have actively been making signs that they are interested in the top positions. Wallström categorically rules herself out and there is no woman as yet making an effort to get news about their candidacy out in the open.
Polly Toynbee, writing in e!Sharp magazine [PDF], thinks Wallström herself should go for it…