BRUSSELS: EU President Herman Van Rompuy appeared to reveal the name of his successor on Saturday as an open microphone caught him confirming Polish premier Donald Tusk was the pick to Cyprus’s curious leader.

“We have news? I understand that Donald is OK?” Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades was heard asking Van Rompuy on a video feed of EU leaders entering a summit room for talks to fill two key jobs and discuss the crisis in Ukraine.

“No no... Yes but keep it...” Von Rompuy is heard saying, before gesturing Anastasiades to keep the news to himself.

Backed by Germany, Tusk seems to have overcome a personal clash with British Prime Minister David Cameron over migration policy to be favourite to replace Van Rompuy.

An EU source said a decision had not yet be taken, with leaders still in talks over the Ukraine crisis.

Published in Dawn, August 31th, 2014