Keeping it in the family

Date: 22/10/1998

The profile of the EU's oft-ignored Economic and Social Committee should soon soar following the election of no less a personality than Machiavelli as its chairwoman.

Mrs Beatrice Rangoni Machiavelli is a direct descendant of the world's most famous political schemer and author of that essential guide to statesmanship, The Prince.

The modern Machiavelli is a journalist by profession and also represents the Italian consumers' council on the ESC.

It remains to be seen whether Mrs Machiavelli will follow the advice of her famous ancestor, who argued: “It is best for a ruler to be loved, but if he cannot be loved he must be feared.”