European Council, Draghi instead of Michel? Financial Times: «It's in the running»
Objective to revive the fortunes of a Europe weakened by the excessive Chinese economic power and the rise of nationalism
« Mario Draghi is a possible candidate for the presidency of the European Council ». In a dry title, as per Anglo-Saxon tradition, the Financial Times summarizes an idea that has been circulating since the end of last year and which, without yet having a clear form, was based above all on the need to revive the fortunes of a weakened Europe by the excessive Chinese economic power and the rise of nationalism.
Charles Michel's decision to run for the European elections , with the risk that from June to November the EU will effectively be governed by Viktor Orban (leader of the country as current president), has made Draghi's idea suddenly more urgent and concrete , so much so as to attract the attention of the authoritative British paper.
Already last December, faced with the growing fatigue regarding support for Ukraine, the continuous blackmail from Budapest and the anti-European shadows hovering around the June vote, the suggestion of a European Council led by by the "whatever it takes" man, appointed last September by the President of the EU Commission Ursula von der Leyen to draw up a report on Europe's competitiveness. And it is precisely on the basis of this report that Draghi could put down on paper some of the priorities that the former prime minister believes are necessary to avoid ending up in the economic grip of the United States and China .
The fact that the former president of the ECB does not belong to any party is an advantage on the one hand, but on the other - as the FT notes - "it could cripple him". Important, in this sense, could be the timing of the negotiations between the member countries and the not very remote possibility that Michel ultimately decides to leave before the European Championships, paving the way for a ferryman.
To vote for the President of the European Council, a difficult but not impossible quorum is needed: the qualified majority of 27. The no from highly populated countries such as Germany (which Draghi's hyper-Europeanism on economic issues has never been too welcome) or how Poland or Italy could block the way to the former number one of the Eurotower.
(Unioneonline/vl)
