Berlusconi backs Draghi for president
2013-01-15 16:01
Rome - Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi
said on Tuesday he would back Mario Draghi if the head of the European Central
Bank was proposed as the country's next president, a prospect the bank ruled
out.
Berlusconi, who will lead a centre-right coalition into
national elections next month, said former Bank of Italy governor Draghi would
be a good successor to current head of state Giorgio Napolitano, who will step
down by May.
"Absolutely yes, if there is a majority that
proposes [Draghi]..., I would vote for him," Berlusconi said on a morning
talk show on La7 television.
In Frankfurt, the ECB said Draghi was committed to seeing
out his tenure at the bank.
"Mario Draghi's term of office as President of the
ECB is eight years until 31 October 2019. He is committed to serve his term
fully," a spokesperson said.
Berlusconi, whose coalition has been closing an opinion
poll gap with its centre-left rivals, had earlier said he had a candidate in
mind to be the next president who would be acceptable to the left, but did not
want to reveal his name for fear of spoiling his chances.
Draghi, who is widely respected in Italy, succeeded
Jean-Claude Trichet as ECB chief in 2011.
Italy's new president will be chosen after the elections,
which take place on 24-25 February.
The president is appointed for a seven-year term by a
joint sitting of both houses of parliament as well as representatives of the 20
regions.
