Claude Trichet's slightly bumpy ride to the presidency of the European Central Bank means that he will no doubt be pleased to see a friendly face in the ECB's press department.

Trichet, the former head of the French central bank, was widely expected to succeed his Dutch predecessor Wim Duisenberg, but was then charged with complicity in publishing misleading accounts at Crédit Lyonnais a decade ago. He has been cleared of any wrongdoing.