Berlin - Xinhua
Mario Draghi formally took over European Central Bank (ECB) presidency from Jean-Claude Trichet on Tuesday, only to happen to be overshadowed by Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou's calling for a referendum on a new European Union (EU) aid package. Italian bonds dropped and the risk premium between the German debt and the rest of the euro area increased after the Greek prime minister announced late Monday he will call a referendum on the terms of his country's bailout. Papandreou's gambit, hours before Draghi succeeded Trichet, unveils the fragility of political wrist to keep the euro from splitting apart and adds to the pressure on the ECB to keep buying distressed bonds. Draghi, whose revels in the hobby of mountain climbing, now scales up to his climax of his personal career. He had once claimed some important professional titles in the World Bank and Goldman Sachs Group, and started serve as governor of the central bank of Italy since early 2006. In his capacity as Bank of Italy governor, he holds as a member of the Governing and General Councils of the ECB and a member of the Board of Directors of the Bank for International Settlements. In April 2006 he was elected Chairman of the Financial Stability Forum, which became Financial Stability Board in spring 2009. Draghi has been hold responsible for coordinating the international financial reform in the 20 countries bloc. Draghi was formally endorsed by EU leaders to take the reins of the ECB after Frenchman Trichet, who ends his term by the end of October, to start an eight-year-term. Draghi will make his debut as of Nov. 3, when the ECB's governing council meeting is convened. He is much anticipated to lead the eurozone to get out of the spiralling debts crisis through more intensified cooperations with European governments.