Nog geen consensus over Verhofstadt als opvolger Prodi (en)

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - As EU leaders prepare to discuss who should be the next commission president, Brussels is awash with rumours, counter-rumours, confirmations and denials.

Amid this, the Irish prime minister and current head of the EU, Bertie Ahern, is to propose one candidate which is likely to be Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt.

No consensus yet

But there is no consensus yet on the Belgian. Although the French and German governments are said to favour Mr Verhofstadt - he is unpopular amongst others.

"Mr Verhofstadt is perceived as being anti-American", one diplomat told the EUobserver mainly because of his vocal opposition to the American-led war in Iraq.

According to agency reports on Wednesday, a senior UK official said London would not accept the the liberal politician. Italy and Poland, who also both sent troops to Iraq, are also against him.

Moreover, among senior centre-right politicians, he is unpopular because of his steadfast refusal to countenance a mention of God in the Constitution.

Reflecting this apparent lack of consensus, Romano Prodi, the current head of the Commission, said on Wednesday that there was no majority for any candidate yet.

A real no from Luxembourg?

Meanwhile, the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) are insisting that the person reflect the results of the European elections which put the EPP well in the lead.

Speaking ahead of an EPP leaders meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, president of the political group Wilfried Martens brought up other names while speaking to BBC World.

He mentioned Dutch Jan-Peter Balkenende and Portugeuse leader José Manuel Durao Barroso as possible successors. He also said UK commissioner Chris Patten was a very good candidate.

However, the person whose name they would like to support, Luxembourg's Jean-Claude Juncker, has insisted he is not interested in the job despite the pressure.

"I'm having to take lots of European phone calls at the moment. The pressure is enormous", he said.

Sources in the EPP told the EUobserver that Mr Juncker may still be persuaded. "The fact that he did so well in the [national] elections, has made it much more difficult [to leave and come to Brussels]", said one high-ranking official person.

The official went on to suggest that there would be no consensus on the issue during this summit and that another meeting would be convened in July to deal with these issues.

In the meantime, Mr Juncker may well be persuaded to leave the tiny Duchy of Luxembourg for the sake of Europe.

Ahern not a candidate

However, rumours that Dublin may take the Commission president question from the agenda altogether has been vigorously denied by Irish officials.

A senior Irish diplomat said that Mr Ahern will be "listening right up until the last minute".

He "will be very determined to have an outcome", continued the diplomat who went on to say that the Irish prime minister, who himself has been the object of speculation for the top Brussels job, "is not a candidate for this position".