Herman Van Rompuy, the Belgian PM, could become the EU’s first president of the European Council. Newspapers report he’s the only contender whose candidature was not rejected by any member state.

I don’t know what is Van Rompuy’s view on this high-powered job. What I remember very well, however, is that it wasn’t all that easy to convince him to become Belgium’s prime minister. Being the only “compromise candidate”, he agreed (or rather: was forced) to take the job in the climate of a deep political crisis.

The European Council needs a president able to find a consensus among the European leaders and Van Rompuy’s political career n Belgium undoubtedly equipped him with consensus-building skills. He’s also said to be a very intelligent and friendly person…

Will this suffice to make our PM the first EU president?