As the citizens of Europe woke up to their new president - Rumplestiltskin or something like that - a poll was apparently already being conducted.
Remarkably or not, it shows 12% of Europeans actually know who Herman Van Rompuy is. That many I hear you ask. No doubt most of them are in Belgium.
In contrast to Rumpypumpy’s low recognition factor, his erstwhile rival, Tango Bravo, had one of 70%. So 30% of Europeans don’t know who Mr Flash is. Interesting.
Yet, according to the Proximity Panels snapshot, almost one third of Europeans backed Tony Blair’s candidacy compared to just one in 20 who backed Herman. No doubt, the ex-PM can console himself by counting all his post-Downing Street money he has made on the lecture circuit. Europe, smeurope.
On the other hand, only one per cent of respondents were against a Belgian taking the top job compared to 16% who did not want a Brit.
The Belgian press had a field day with their new man at the helm of Europe with one front page emblazoned with Rumpole on a horse in armour with the slogan “Herman I”.
Indeed, the Belgian tabloids have taken offence at the entente hostile that has met HVR’s candidacy from the UK media.
This morning one local rag declared “C’est la guerre!” with the Belgian tricolour and the Union flag. It had earlier this week demanded to know why the Brits had such a problem with male Belgian politicians.
Today it noted how “la contre-attaque anglaise est rapide et massive” but bemoaned how the Brits always resorted to “les cliches anti-Belges”.
Among the 35 nasty British barbs listed were:
*the Belgians don’t know if they’re French or Dutch;
*the only interesting thing about Brussels is the statue of a young boy having a pee;
*Belgian women are bad dressers;
*their food is even worse than ours but worst of all
*Belgium isn’t really a country.
Yet with the elevation of HVR, he can can now take his place alongside the august array of plucky Belgians, including the bicycling Eddie Merckx, the eponymous Adolphe Sax, the Breakfast at Tiffany’s actress Audrey Hepburn, painters Rene Magritte and Peter Paul Rubens and Herge, creator of Tin Tin, as famous Belgians. Apparently, Agatha Christie’s detective Hercule Poirot does not count because he is a fictional character.
Rumpy, known mainly thus far for being a politician who is nifty at composing haiku poems, might this weekend sit back and reflect on his great achievement thanks to his euro chums Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy. “I came. I saw. I conquered. Now what?”
