Mario Draghi. Photo: www.flickr.com
Former European Central Bank President and former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi has expressed his concern over the “lack of leadership” in Europe due to the weakening of political leaders in France and Germany. He said this at an award ceremony in Milan, dpa reports.
“The leadership of France and Germany is weakened,” Draghi said, adding that the situation in Europe is complex. “However, I do not see any other leadership that could lead Europe to a common future. There is a certain power vacuum, but we have to be patient and wait for the results of the German elections,” he said.
The former Italian prime minister also drew attention to the collapse of the centre-left coalition in Germany, which could lead to new parliamentary elections in February. In France, President Emmanuel Macron promised to promptly appoint a new prime minister after Michel Barnier’s resignation.
“Moments for optimism”
Draghi, who headed the European Central Bank from 2011 to 2019 and also led the Italian government in 2021-2022, said that Europe is going through difficult times, but not to lose hope. Earlier, he published a report on the future of the European Union, in which he called for optimism, noting:
“If you are a pessimist, stay home. It is only through optimism that we can succeed,” he said in his speech.
Draghi warned that “lack of leadership” could pose a serious threat to Europe in the face of global challenges such as economic difficulties and geopolitical instability.
European perspectives and the future of leadership
Mario Draghi’s words reflect the concerns of a significant number of European politicians and experts who see the current political vacuum as a serious threat to Europe’s stability. At the same time, he believes that only the restoration of strong political will in key countries, such as Germany and France, will help restore confidence in European institutions.
