EU leaders should choose Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende as first president of the European council, the Times newspaper states in an editorial on Tuesday.

Belgian prime minister Herman Van Rompuy, who is favourite for the job, has such ‘obscure’ qualifications for the job and is so ‘anonymous’ that the ‘disinterested observer even becomes enthusiastic for the alternative candidature of Jan Peter Balkenende,’ the paper states.
‘EU leaders should think again and choose Mr Balkenende.’
EU leaders are expected to pick their first president on Thursday. Balkenende has stated several times that he is not up for the job, but some Brussels insiders say he has mounted a significant lobbying campaign.