EU vice-president endorses Danish PM for top position

Neelie Kroes wants Helle Thorning-Schmidt to take over the EU presidency

Dutch EU commissioner Neelie Kroes wrote on her Twitter account today that she wants Helle Thorning-Schmidt to succeed Herman van Rompuy as president of the European Council, a job that includes the chairing of summits of the union's heads of state or government.

"I am going on record saying that Helle Thorning-Schmidt would make a great successor to [Herman van Rompuy] as president of the European Council," she wrote.

Twitter support
It's up to each member nation's head of state to decide who will get the top position, but Kroes retains a significant vote in Brussels, where she is vice-president of the European Commission. She is the most prominent politician to recommend Thorning-Schmidt for the job.

Her open support for the Danish prime minister comes two days ahead of a meeting that may conclude with the appointment of a new council president and a new head of foreign policy.

However, it could still take several months, as Van Rompuy ends his five-year term on November 1.

PM denies interest
Denmark's PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt keeps denying that she is looking for another job, but that won't stop national and international media from speculating.

The Financial Times wrote on Sunday that German chancellor Angela Merkel "has signalled a willingness to accept Helle Thorning-Schmidt”.

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