Comments on: Ashton as High Representative: no, being a woman does not imply incompetency

By: Eurosocialiste

Eurosocialiste — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 10:56:51 +0000

@ Thomas
Please, let’s not say something is silly or not. I am not saying Ashton’s gender had nothing to do with her appointment. Of course, it’s a plus she’s a woman. And I’m very happy there’s at least one woman at one of these jobs, as there should be. What I’m saying is her gender is only the 3rd or 4th reason why she got there, after political affiliation and nationality.

By: Thomas Byrne

Thomas Byrne — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:48:45 +0000

I think if Gordon Brown wanted someone competent for the role he would have proposed Chris Patten, a consenus builder, foreign policy knowledge, contacts.

Although he’s not from the socialist group I think as things standed it could have been done I think to claim Ashton wasnt picked in the name of gender balance is just a wee bit silly.

By: Eurosocialiste

Eurosocialiste — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 23:09:58 +0000

@ Fabien yes I know, you didn’t say Lady Ashton was incompetent -other people said that, not you- but you do think the main reason she was nominated is because she’s a woman. I don’t think that’s the main reason as I explained. I’m sorry if you felt attacked! It was not my intention. I thought your analysis was good and interesting, I just partly disagree with it.

By: Fabien

Fabien — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:51:57 +0000

I think my analysis was good. I havent said that she was not competent but her choice was the result of two axes : a woman and a britanic person.

She had two others advantages :
- she was “socialist” (with a president of european council of the right wing).
- she was known in the european affairs.

What’s the problem ? The choice of Van Rompuy and Ashton was not based on a problem of competence, but was a diplomatic choice.

My critic was not against Lady Ashton but against the reasons why she had been selected. You can’t “attack” me just because I’m a man. (it’s the mirror attack time :-p)

I hope that Ashton and Van Rompuy will be good leaders. For Europe. But with this diplomatic method, these two personn are not in the good condition to begin their mandate.

By: Eurosocialiste

Eurosocialiste — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:03:42 +0000

I think the European socialists just put their bet on other horses, and Lady Ashton was suggested by the British kind of at the last minute. It’s a typical EU consensus, it’s not the candidates people talk the most about that get the job in the end, but surprise candidates. However, keep in mind that the Socialists did support Lady Ashton collectively in the end. At least, that’s a step ahead of what happened for the Commission President job.

By: Julien Frisch

Julien Frisch — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 21:21:24 +0000

Plus she has been able to get quite some relevant foreign relations experience over the last year (I put up a list on my blog).

However, it was very unfortunate that she wasn’t mentioned as a candidate and didn’t even think of herself as a candidate until Thursday. This showed that the Socialist leaders were not convinced of her, at least not enough to expose her to public critique.

This didn’t do her a great favour, neither does it for the cause of promoting women for top jobs.

But not Baroness Ashton is to blame, the Socialist leaders are. She’ll have the chance to show that she’s underestimated by most commentators.