FT-Draghi Could Be Drafted In As EUCO President

Earlier on 9 Jan, the FT reportedthat former ECB president and Italian prime minister, Mario Draghi, could be drafted in as European Council president in July, with incumbent Charles Michel set to step down in the very likely scenario in which he wins a seat in the European Parliament. Many EU leaders are seen as keen to appoint an interim EUCO pres in order to avoid the scenario of the position sitting vacant after Michel takes his seat in the European Parliament. In this scenario, the chair of the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union takes on the EUCO presidency. In H224 this responsibility would fall to Hungarian PMViktor Orban, who for years has built his political platform on opposing Brussels.

• While Draghi's history as a technocratic figure, able to steer institutions and gov'ts through choppy political waters, could see him garner support the FT reports two major impediments. Firstly, the length of the appointment. Leaders are seen as wanting Draghi as a temporary president, to be replaced after the European Parliament elections in June, "Draghi, however, is unlikely to accept this role on an interim basis, one official said."
• Draghi sits as an independent, without a political party or group. As such, the political groupings in the European Parliament could try to outmaneuver Draghi in an attempt to get their own candidate into the EUCO president's chair, particularly in the aftermath of the EP elections.