Former Latvia president is EU contender

BRUSSELS, Nov. 18 (UPI) -- The leading female contender for the presidency of the European Union says the selection process should not take place behind closed doors in Brussels.

Former Latvia President Vaira Vike-Freiberga says choosing an EU president "should be more transparent," and that it's time for the EU to "stop working like the former Soviet Union," The Times of London reported Wednesday.

Vike-Frieberga, 71, is challenging former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and her other male rivals for the job to come clean about their ambitions.

"The first step would be to stop hiding behind their fans and come out and say they would be ready to take the job," she says.

Since leaving the Latvian presidency two years ago, Vike-Frieberga has joined a group of senior politicians drawing up plans for the EU and is a frequent visitor to Brussels.

The author of 11 books, she is a former professor of linguistics.

Vike-Frieberg is fluent in English, French, German, Latvian and Spanish.