Blair's chances of winning EU president role slip

By John O'Donnell and Tim Castle

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Former Prime Minister Tony Blair's chances of becoming president of the European Union receded on Thursday when he failed to win the blessing of European socialists.

Although Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged the socialists to back Blair at a meeting before an EU summit, some leaders distanced themselves from his candidacy and the party set up a three-man team to decide its position.

Blair faces opposition because of his backing for U.S. President George W. Bush and the war in Iraq, but also because Britain is not among the 16 countries that use the euro currency and is seen as eurosceptic.

"My personal opinion is that the candidate ... should have an especially good relationship with (President Barack) Obama and not stand for a good working relationship with Bush," Austrian Chancellor Werner Fayman said.

Fayman is one of the three leaders who will decide the socialists' position, and his views were echoed by Jean Asselborn, Luxembourg's deputy prime minister.

"I do not find that the candidacy of Tony Blair is good because of what he characterises. He is connected with Bush and the war in Iraq," he said. "The best candidates are the ones who have not been named as candidates."

BROWN SAYS GET REAL

Such remarks do not augur well for Blair's chances of becoming the 27-country bloc's first long-term president.