It has been a whirlwind day in Budapest, as the campaigns for the Presidency of ALDE and five, perhaps six, Vice-Presidencies, reach a crescendo. Various delegations have requested a few minutes to hear and question Ros, from the formal - the Joint Nordic meeting - to the more informal - LYMEC around two tables on the mezzanine landing.
Amidst all of this, the resolutions have been argued in the working groups, fringe meetings have been held and old friendships rekindled. Strangely, this has been an event where a number of old colleagues from my days in IFLRY have come together. Some of them have gone to greater things - Defence Minister in Slovenia, Education Minister in Denmark, that sort of thing. Perhaps I could have been a contender?... Perhaps not.
There is, however, a clear difference between the bureaucrat who was for Ros in 2007 and 2008, and the 2015 version. Eight years appear to have the equivalent stopping force of a heavy-calibre weapon, so I have to be smarter, rather than faster.
Luckily, the campaign team have been marvellous, as our International Office have thrown themselves enthusiastically into the fray, handing out leaflets, introducing Ros to potentially friendly delegations, and negotiating support. And, thankfully, people have been as friendly as one could hope. Nonetheless, nothing is being taken for granted, just as Ros took nothing for granted in 2008 against Lembit and Chandila.
But time is running out for the various campaigns, with the poll itself just fifteen hours away. Key delegations meet in the morning, with a late-breaking hustings meeting scheduled for 8.30, so sleep is called for...
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