Former PM may be interested in EU Presidency

The former Prime Minister has not ruled out an interest in becoming President of the European Council (if the Reform Treaty is ratified the President will serve a two-and-a-half year term). The PM is still, for a politician, a relatively young man: still in his fifties. He was elected Leader of his party in 1994, and after the 1997 General Election became his country's youngest ever Prime Minister. He is a charismatic, approachable politician. Around the world he is being lauded for the role he played in helping to broker the Good Friday Agreement.

No, not Tony. Bertie Ahern has just resigned as Taoiseach and will be succeeded by his Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen. Asked about the Presidency of the Council Ahern said he would "certainly like to be considered for a position like that" but he would "have to think about it". Has he a chance? Hard to say. The circumstances of his resignation - the Mahon Tribunal revelations vis-a-vis his rather irregular personal finances - are not perhaps very helpful.