Ex-Irish PM joins Blair in race for EU presidency job

(DUBLIN) - Former Irish prime minister John Bruton has joined ex-British PM Tony Blair in the running for the new post of EU president, his Fine Gael party said Thursday.

Bruton, who is finishing a five-year term as EU ambassador in Washington, announced his interest in the job in a letter to the ambassadors of all EU countries to the United States and called for their support.

"I hope you will allow me to ask for your assistance in conveying a message to your government," said the letter, published in the Irish Times.

Blair is the biggest name currently linked to the job of president of the European Council, which would be created under the Lisbon Treaty.

His successor as prime minister, Gordon Brown, on Thursday backed him for the post saying he would be an "excellent candidate," although Blair has yet to confirm he is standing.

Current Irish premier Brian Cowen voiced support for Bruton's candidacy.

"As an Irishman, I welcome the fact that the name of a former taoiseach (prime minister) has been put forward," he said as he entered an EU summit in Brussels.

"We have now to see if there is sufficient support for his candidacy," he added, among signs of a growing anti-Blair camp among his fellow European leaders.

Eurosceptic Czech President Vaclav Klaus is the only European leader yet to sign the treaty.

Former Irish president Mary Robinson was earlier tipped for the job, but has effectively ruled herself out, saying she wants to focus on battling global warming.

Bruton, 62, ran a three-party coalition government in Ireland from 1994 to 1997.

Despite the discussions on the margins of the EU summit, leaders stressed that no decisions would emerge from the two days of talks in the Belgian capital.

Before that can happen the bloc's reforming Lisbon Treaty, which creates the post, will have to ratified by the Czech Republic.