BERLIN (MNI) – German Chancellor Angela Merkel will back Italian
central bank governor Mario Draghi as candidate for the succession of
European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet, the German daily
Bild reported Friday, citing government sources.
Germany wants to support “the most German of all remaining
candidates” and this is clearly Draghi, the paper cited a source.
On Tuesday at a joint press conference with Italian Prime Minister
Silvio Berlusconi, French President Nicolas Sarkozy had already endorsed
the candidacy of Draghi.
Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who chairs the
Eurogroup, said Thursday, “I don’t see notable differences between what
[Sarkozy] said and what I think.”
A German government spokesman said on Wednesday that for the
government it is decisive that the next ECB president have international
experience, “can continue to lead the important role the ECB is playing
in overcoming the financial and economic crisis” and “share our views on
currency stability.”
Bundesbank President Axel Weber declared last month that he would
step down at the end of April, one year before the scheduled end of his
term, and that he would not be a candidate for the top ECB job.
–Berlin bureau: +49-30-22 62 05 80; email: twidder@marketnews.com
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