BERLIN (MNI) – The German government used the Ecofin deliberations
on a euro stability plan concluded in the wee hours of Monday to advance
the candidacy of Bundesbank President Axel Weber to become the next
European Central Bank president, German business daily Handelsblatt
reported Wednesday.

“Several Eurozone states have agreed to that request of the
[German] federal government,” the paper said, citing an unidentified
government official.

According to Handelsblatt, Germany pushed for Weber with the
argument that the Bundesbank president enjoys the reputation of an
inflation hawk.

The term of current ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet ends on
November 1 next year.

–Berlin bureau: +49-30-22 62 05 80; email: twidder@marketnews.com

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