Mrs Merkel - seen as the main powerbroker in the summit - has already acknowledged that the talks will be "very difficult".

BBC: EU budget summit: Cameron demands further cuts

No matter who takes the slot, analysts and Afghans alike worry that the loss of such a strong powerbroker could destabilize the south, which has seen considerable security gains in the past year.

MSN: After Karzai, who will fill Afghan power void?

And you gotta know that Bill Clinton would love to be back in the White House where he could powerbroker legislation and U.S. policy and hobnob with dignitaries as well as some questionable characters from around the world.

FORBES: Is It Time For Democrats To Dump Obama?

Unlike Chatichai, an old-style powerbroker closely associated with vested interests, Chuan, 59, is known to be clean and honest -- if also slow and indecisive -- and is regarded as being more qualified for the job of resuscitating the Thai economy.

CNN: Getting Down to Work