Sarkozy wants new role for euro bank / Hollande joins debate over central bank

Nicolas Sarkozy, President of France, broke a months-long pact with Angela Merkel, German chancellor, not to discuss the role of the European Central Bank in public, calling on the 15 April 2012 for the ECB to adopt policies to support growth.

At a rally in Paris a week before the first round of voting in the presidential election, Mr Sarkozy declared: 'We cannot have taboo subjects. We cannot have banned debates'. He suggested a debate to increase the mandate of the ECB.

François Hollande, the front-running Socialist candidate in the French presidential election, also joined in on the topic.

However, Germany said that while it agreed with France on the need to boost growth and employment in Europe, but suggested this was not a task for the ECB.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Hollande calls for ECB growth mandate http://www.europeansources.info/record/hollande-calls-for-ecb-growth-mandate/

EurActiv, 16.4.12: Sarkozy breaks 'taboo' by calling for ECB debate http://www.euractiv.com/euro-finance/sarkozy-breaks-taboo-calling-ecb-news-512155

ESO: Background information: Merkel no longer set to campaign with Sarkozy / Sarkozy’s populist solo upsets duet with Merkel http://www.europeansources.info/record/merkel-no-longer-set-to-campaign-with-sarkozy-sarkozys-populist%e2%80%89solo-upsets-duet-with-merkel/

EUObserver, 17.4.12: Germany defends ECB from Sarkozy proposal http://euobserver.com/19/115901

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