Rome - Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini denied Tuesday news reports that quoted him as saying that the European Central Bank (ECB) presidency should go to an Italian. "I have learned from the media that I have proposed (Italian Central Bank Governor Mario) Draghi as successor to (ECB President Jean- Claude) Trichet. It is not true and it could not be true," Frattini said, according to a foreign ministry statement.
"It is not possible to promote any candidate, since the norms and procedures for the appointment of the next ECB president will only be made known in a year's time," Frattini said.
An earlier news report quoted Frattini as saying that it should be Italy's turn to fill the ECB presidency when Trichet's current mandate expires in 2011.
The report also cited an Italian television interview, in which Frattini reportedly said Italy would be "honoured" if Bank of Italy Governor and Financial Stability Board chairman Mario Draghi were named as the ECB's next president.
