19 November 2009 was a historical date for Europeans. For the first time in history, most of Europe (the EU) is unified under a single president. The top job was assigned to Belgian Prime Minister, Herman Van Rompuy.
Although the press has already criticised the choice due to Van Rompuy's shyness and lack of charisma, he qualifies well for the job thanks to his cross-cultural negotiating skills and multilingualism. Europe needs to be unified under a competent leader. It does not need a superstar president who doesn't know what he his doing. In other words Van Rompuy is a sort of anti-Bush Jr.
The BBC has a summary chart comparing the status and function of the EU president in contrast with the US president. We can see at once that the power of the US president is more dictatorial (commander-in-chief of the army, can sign executive orders without Congress approval) while the EU presidency looks resolutely democratic and modern.
Although the press has already criticised the choice due to Van Rompuy's shyness and lack of charisma, he qualifies well for the job thanks to his cross-cultural negotiating skills and multilingualism. Europe needs to be unified under a competent leader. It does not need a superstar president who doesn't know what he his doing. In other words Van Rompuy is a sort of anti-Bush Jr.
The BBC has a summary chart comparing the status and function of the EU president in contrast with the US president. We can see at once that the power of the US president is more dictatorial (commander-in-chief of the army, can sign executive orders without Congress approval) while the EU presidency looks resolutely democratic and modern.