Commerzbank look at who might follow.......>

ECB VIEW: Commerzbank look at who might follow Draghi at the ECB when his term

expires in Oct 2019.

- They list 4 possibles: Klaas Knot, Philip Lane, Francois Villeroy de Galhau

and Jens Weidmann.

- Commerzbank mention that Spain's target is the Vice Presidential position and

so Spain may support Germany's candidate in a reciprocal arrangement that

supports a Spaniard for VP. "A coalition between Germany and Spain would also

make sense because based on the strong proportional representation principle

that is applied when filling posts". Plus, there would be northern and southern

European representatives in the top two posts.

- German political support for Weidmann is complicated by domestic politics

because the SPD, unlike the CDU has not openly supported Weidmann according to

Commerzbank.

- Even Merkel is wondering whether to push for the ECB president post "There are

apparently fears that Germany would have to make far-reaching concessions to

southern European countries in return for their support for Weidmann".