France, Germany spar over top ECB job

FRANKFURT, Nov 29 (AFP): France and Germany are battling for a key post at the European Central Bank amid deepening differences over the role the bank should take in the eurozone debt crisis, sources revealed Tuesday. Until now, Berlin had assumed its number two at the finance ministry, Joerg Asmussen, would automatically take over from fellow German Juergen Stark as the ECB's chief economist when he steps down at the end of the year. But sources familiar with matter told the news agency that Paris has also now thrown its hat into the ring in the person of Benoit Coeure-chief economist of the French economy and finance ministry and number two at the French treasury. The source was confirming a corresponding report in German business daily Handelsblatt Tuesday. "Berlin and Paris are both laying equal claim to the post. It's a dead heat," the newspaper quoted French government and central bank sources as saying. "Benoit Coeure clearly has the competence and the profile for the position of chief economist," one source told the news agency, speaking on condition of anonymity.