The latest European plan of French President Emmanuel Macron would involve placing former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi as president of the next European Commission. This was published yesterday by the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, which reported that, according to diplomatic sources in Paris and Brussels, the Elysée tenant had already begun his campaign by proposing it to the German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz.
But it seems that, whether these are Macron's intentions or not, Draghi has no desire to replace Ursula Von der Leyen. Sources close to the former president of the European Central Bank told this newspaper yesterday that “Mario Draghi is not interested” in the position. “La Repubblica attributes this indiscretion to French initiatives,” they noted. Macron's team, for its part, did not want to comment on the article.
The French president always maintained an excellent relationship with Draghi when he was Italian prime minister, an anomaly in the turbulent relations that have existed in recent years between Italy and France.
According to La Repubblica, Macron believes that in the next European legislature, when Brussels may face challenges such as the return of Donald Trump or the growth of China, it would be desirable for the considered savior of the euro to be in charge.
Since he resigned from the leadership of Italy – after losing the support of the 5 Star Movement – in July last year, Draghi has opted for a discreet background at 76 years old. In September he was commissioned by Von der Leyen to draw up a plan to boost the EU's economic competitiveness in the face of challenges such as the transition to greener energy.
