Beyond The Commons

Aaron Wherry covers all the goings-on in and around Parliament Hill. Follow Aaron on Twitter: @aaronwherry

Categories: Beyond The Commons, Capital Read

The new breed

by Aaron Wherry on Saturday, June 26, 2010 2:22pm - 4 Comments

Interesting observation from the Prime Minister near the conclusion of this news conference today.

“I’ve never been at a summit where leaders seemed to more deeply feel the necessity of common action and common purpose. Why is that? Some of it may be some of the personalities around the table and the generational change that’s taken place in the G8 over the past few years.”

There is perhaps something to this.

Mr. Harper succeeded Paul Martin in 2006. Since then, in roughly this order, Nicolas Sarkozy has replaced Jacques Chirac, Dmitry Medvedev has filled the spot of Vladimir Putin, Silvio Berlusconi has returned to power in Italy, Barack Obama has succeeded George W. Bush, David Cameron has succeeded Gordon Brown and Naoto Kan has replaced Yukio Hatoyama. Of the eight leaders who attended the Prime Minister’s first G8, at St. Petersburg in 2006, only Mr. Harper and Germany’s Angela Merkel remain. And of the new arrivals, five—Harper, Obama, Cameron, Sarkozy and Medvedev—are 55 years old or younger.

Tags: Angela Merkel, Barack Obama, David Cameron, Dmitry Medvedev, G8, George W. Bush, Gordon Brown, Huntsville, Jacques Chirac, Naoto Jan, Nicolas Sarkozy, Paul Martin, Silvio Berlusconi, Stephen Harper, summit, Vladimir Putin, Yukio Hatoyama

More by Aaron Wherry

http://intensedebate.com/people/TwoYen TwoYen

At 62 years old, Naoto Kan may be a few years over 55, but in Japanese terms he is just a youngster and will fit in well with the guys and gals in their 50s. Moreover, as someone who is not from the traditional political elite, he has a very different perspective than many of his immediate predecessors, which no doubt PM Harper would also appreciate..
Gaunilon

I'm not seeing why relative youth or being new at the job would make a difference re "common purpose". Is he suggesting these personalities aren't jaded, cynical and ruthless? Come on. Putin protege Medvedev? Chicago Way Obama? Berlusconi???

Anon 001

You're making a very common mistake that Wherry frequently makes i.e. assuming that Harper actually thinks before he speaks.

http://intensedebate.com/people/bill_y bill_y

O, so younger leaders feel more deeply about the need for common action and common purpose.

I don't buy it.