ROME, Jan 26 (Reuters - Bank of Italy Governor Mario Draghi held an unusual meeting at Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's private residence on Tuesday amid talk he might be a candidate to succeed Jean-Claude Trichet at the helm of the European Central Bank.
A short statement by Berlusconi's office said the meeting was 'a periodic encounter to analyse the domestic economic situation and the international outlook.'
Such meetings between Draghi, who also heads the Financial Stability Board, and Berlusconi usually take place at the prime minister's office.
The fact that this meeting took place at Berlusconi's residence, where encounters are more informal, is likely to fuel even more speculation that one of the topics of discussion was the ECB job.
Italy has already said Draghi would be a good candidate and he is regarded, together with German Bundesbank President Axel Weber, as one of the front-runners to take over from Trichet when his mandate as ECB president expires in October 2011.
(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte; Editing by Dan Grebler) Keywords: ITALY DRAGHI/ECB (silvia.aloisi@thomsonreuters.com; +39 06 8522 4392, Reuters Messaging: silvia.aloisi.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
A short statement by Berlusconi's office said the meeting was 'a periodic encounter to analyse the domestic economic situation and the international outlook.'
Such meetings between Draghi, who also heads the Financial Stability Board, and Berlusconi usually take place at the prime minister's office.
The fact that this meeting took place at Berlusconi's residence, where encounters are more informal, is likely to fuel even more speculation that one of the topics of discussion was the ECB job.
Italy has already said Draghi would be a good candidate and he is regarded, together with German Bundesbank President Axel Weber, as one of the front-runners to take over from Trichet when his mandate as ECB president expires in October 2011.
(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte; Editing by Dan Grebler) Keywords: ITALY DRAGHI/ECB (silvia.aloisi@thomsonreuters.com; +39 06 8522 4392, Reuters Messaging: silvia.aloisi.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.