Italy ready to seek vote over EU foreign policy job: official

Italy's Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini talks to the media as she arrives at an European Union foreign ministers meeting in Brussels May 12, 2014. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

ROME (Reuters) - Italy is ready to demand an open vote on whether its foreign minister should be the European Union's next foreign policy chief if any member states oppose her selection by the usual consensus method, a senior Italian official said on Tuesday.

Poland and the Baltic states are uneasy about Federica Mogherini's candidacy to replace Catherine Ashton as the 28-nation EU's top diplomat, concerned that she may be soft on Russia, diplomats said on Monday.