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?

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