There seems to be some disagreement over who will succeed M Barroso as head of the European commission. Mainstream right and centre right parties campaigned during the European elections naming Jean-Claude Juncker as their candidate. As they won a majority they naturally expected their candidate to be elected. But some EU governments are demurring and reportedly David Cameron has threatened to withdraw from the EU if Juncker is elected. Angela Merkel is solidly in favour of the former Luxembourg premier.
Malc says: I was shocked at the vehemence of French press readers to Cameron's proposal: "bon debarras" (good riddance) seemed to be common. These views were mainly from left-wing readers, who blame the UK for ultra liberalism infecting the EU economies. One particularly virulent attack would be happy to see "this US aircraft carrier" being disengaged from Europe. I find this ironic in this week when we are marking the 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings when that "aircraft carrier" landed hundreds of thousands of American, British and Canadian troops to lead the liberation of France.
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