Chirac turns down Putin’s offer
French ex-president Jacques Chirac rejected Vladimir Putin’s proposal to head South Stream AG. This was reported by the weekly publication Le Nouvel Observateur, using Chirac’s press service as reference. A source close to Chirac’s milieu explained the refusal by the fact that “he prefers to devote more time to his charity foundation.” The Russian government gave an unofficial confirmation, saying that “this was not an official offer, though talks did take place, and Chirac refused to take part in this project, evidently due to his age.”
The appointment had previously been rejected by the former-prime minister of Italy, Romano Prodi. According to some press sources, former-prime minister of Hungary Ferenc Gyurcsany was also a candidate. However, this has not been confirmed by the Russian Federation’s government. An unofficial statement has been issued stating that the proposal is being considered by a West European politician.
Gerhard Schroeder, the former German Chancellor, accepted the proposition to head an analogous project, the Nord Stream. Director of the Russie/NEI Visions at the French Institute of International Relations, Thomas Gomart, told The Day that it was difficult for him to reach any conclusions about Chirac’s decision, as he was unsure about the motives. According to Gomart, the French people, barring experts, hardly know anything about Chirac’s refusal to head the South Stream AG. The expert noted, “The French power is leery of Schroeder’s choices, considering the fact that he joined the board of the Nord Stream directors directly after serving as a chancellor. This was somewhat unexpected. It raises doubt about the line between governmental and private activities, and should be avoided in Germany, Russia, and other countries.”
Tusk renounces presidency bid
Poles support Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s decision to not run for president. They consider that the Civic Platform party should nominate the President of the European Parliament, Prof. Jerzy Buzek, for the presidential elections. This has been indicated by a survey conducted by the research center MillwardBrown SMG/KRC. Tusk recently made an official statement that he would not be competing in the presidential elections in autumn 2010. Instead he is planning to head the government until the term of his commission runs out in 2011. Tusk said that he does not want to take part in the race for “the presidential palace and honors,” but will continue “the battle whose goal is civilization progress.” According to his statements, in order to realize his plan for Poland, he will need “strength, energy, and the appropriate instruments,” which the government has. More than half of the respondents (58 percent) believe that Tusk’s decision is correct, while 31 percent assess it negatively. According to the survey, the President of the European Parliament Jerzy Buzek is the most acceptable candidate from the ruling party Civic Platform (supported by 19 percent of respondents), next come Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski and ex-prime minister Wlodzimierz Cimoszewicz (each enjoys 17 percent of support). A total of 16 percent believe that Marshal of the Sejm Bronislaw Komorowski should run for presidency.
