Tony Blair could be Europe's 21st century equivalent of George Washington if he gets the job of President of the European Union.

The architect of the role, the former French president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, believes that the first incumbent should have the political clout to assume the historical significance of the foremost founding father of the United States.

"This is about the first fixed president of the EU and we must have George Washington in mind as the precedent," he wrote on his blog yesterday.

Mr Blair is the current favourite, although Mr Giscard d'Estaing opposes his candidature because Britain is not a member of the euro and opts out of EU borders, justice and social policy.

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The former prime minister has expressed interest in the presidential post, but only if it comes with a high-profile political role. He is expected to declare himself formally in the race - or not - as details of the job description emerge over the next four months.

Mr Giscard d'Estaing has called for a public debate about the role of president, which he created.

He fears that European governments, running scared of public opinion, will draft the job description in Brussels corridors instead.

"The definition must be undertaken with great care if we want the role of the president to have a democratic character, taking into account public expectations," he said.

Closed meetings of ambassadors to the EU will begin to hammer out a job description later this month.

This discussion is expected to reach a conclusion at a summit in mid-June, which has angered many British MPs because Parliament will ratify the new treaty before anyone really knows the powers and role of the EU president it creates.

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