Europe’s future on his shoulders

With Jean Claude Trichet preparing to step down as president of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, an Italian banker with more than enough experience, is the person likely to step into his office, writes Kyran Fitzgerald

ON Tuesday, French President Nicholas Sarkozy arrived in Rome bearing a big gift for Italy’s top banker, Mario Draghi.

Mr Sarkozy informed his Italian counterpart Silvio Berlusconi that he would be backing Mr Draghi’s candidacy for the presidency of the European Central Bank (ECB), a post that is due to be filled next October following the retirement of Frenchman, Jean Claude Trichet.