Brussels, 17/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - The Chair of the Parliamentary Commission on Economic Affairs, Christa Randzio-Plath, stated in Monday's Financial Times Deutschland that Wim Duisenberg's mandate at the European Central Bank (ECB) should be extended to the and of the year due to the uncertainty surrounding his succession. "The heads of State and Government of the EU member states should invite Mr Duisenberg to remain in office until the end of the year, and they should do this as soon as possible. Preferably at the next European Council in March", she recommends.
In theory, Mr Duisenberg is to be replaced on 9 July by the governor of the Banque de France, Jean-Clause Trichet, currently under trial in the Crédit Lyonnais accounts case. But Mr Trichet's destiny will only be made known on 18 June, three weeks before the Dutchman retires. Mr Trichet is facing a ten month suspended sentence as requested by the public prosecutor. "Even if he (Mr Trichet) is declared not guilty, there is still the possibility that the public prosecution will appeal", which would prevent him from taking up his post at the head of the ECB, is Mrs Randzio-Plath's concern.