from
Markus Zydra, Frankfurt
Jens Weidmann’s “Au Revoir” leaves nothing to be desired in terms of perfection. ECB President Christine Lagarde expressed her “respect” to the soon-to-be-outgoing Bundesbank President. In the same breath she expressed “regret” about his decision to resign and concluded with the jovial assessment that Jens was “a good personal friend”. Lagarde published this appreciation very soon after Weidmann’s surprising announcement on her Twitter account, initially in English, later also in German. The Frenchwoman is considered a gifted communicator who always makes the people she works with a good feeling. Almost everyone who has dealt with her says that. Weidmann was also able to work constructively with her. But the relaxed personal relationship was not enough to keep the Germans in line: Weidmann has lost faith in being able to play a decisive role in shaping the future monetary policy of the ECB.