PARIS (MNI) – Germany’s finance minister supports the nomination of
Bank of Italy Governor Mario Draghi to succeed Jean-Claude Trichet as
president of the European Central Bank, French Finance Minister
Christine Lagarde revealed Friday.
Asked in a radio interview whether in fact German Chancellor Angela
Merkel had signaled to French President Nicolas Sarkozy that she would
sign on with the French in backing Draghi, Lagarde declined to confirm
the rumor.
“But…my colleague Wolfgang Schaeuble is in favor of this
nomination,” Lagarde said. “He considers that [Draghi] has all the
qualities necessary to make a good president of the ECB.”
Lagarde noted that well informed observers expect Merkel to give
the nod as well. “Madame Merkel has said she will make her opinion known
in June,” she said. “I hope we will know a bit before.”
[TOPICS: M$G$$$,M$F$$$,M$X$$$,M$$EC$,MGX$$$]
