Bavaria's Stoiber Said to Rebuff EU Job

The premier of Bavaria, one of Germany's largest states, turned down an offer to become head of the European Commission. According to German news magazine Focus, the idea that Edmund Stoiber take over at the head of the Brussels executive was first mooted by France and Germany at the end of last year. Mr Stoiber reportedly turned down the offer in February of this year. The offer was "obviously a great honor and proof of the recognised abilities" of Mr Stoiber, said the Secretary General of the Christian Social Union (CSU) Markus Söder. Mr Stoiber, who is head of the CSU, refused the job after a short period of consideration because he sees his decisive role in Bavaria and with the CSU. He was the chancellor candidate of the conservative opposition in 2002, running against Gerhard Schröder, who perhaps wanted to see Stoiber neutralized by being sent to Brussels. (EUobserver.com)