EU leaders jump gun to greet new president

Date: 09/11/00

By Craig Winneker

EU LEADERS eager to score points with the new US president were forced to retract their premature congratulations to Republican George W. Bush after the election result was thrown into doubt.

Soon after US television networks declared that Bush had won and reported that Vice-President Al Gore had conceded, politicians around the world rushed to salute the new leader of the free world.

"We are much looking forward to working with Mr Bush," said European Commission President Romano Prodi in Brussels.

"We know you as a good friend of our country and look forward to the continuation of close friendship of our people during your time in office,"gushed German President Johannes Rau.

But when Gore retracted his concession of defeat after voting in the state of

Florida proved so close as to trigger a recount, politicians around the world also quickly retracted their statements.

A red-faced spokesman for the German president said: "What can we do? It is complicated. One wants to be among the first sending congratu-lations and warm wishes."

Commission Spokesman Jonathan Faull also stressed that his institution expected

EU-US relations to be positive "regardless of who wins".

EU leaders eager to score points with the new US president were forced to retract their premature congratulations to Republican George W. Bush after the election result was thrown into doubt.