France’s Macron wants EU top job for Draghi

That would be in addition to getting far-right Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to nominate Draghi. The 76-year-old technocrat would not be the most obvious political ally to Meloni — but she would be likely to see the advantages of an Italian at the helm, running the EU.

Speaking to POLITICO about advancing Draghi’s candidacy for a front-rank job during an interview at the headquarters of the Renaissance party in Paris, Canfin conceded: “There’s no easy way to get there.”

The other top job — European Council president, overseeing the 27 national governments — would also be difficult.

The Socialists, the second-biggest group in the European Parliament, are looking to replace Charles Michel, the current president, with someone from their ranks. France would have to help the Socialists win another major EU role if Draghi were to become Council chief.

Still, France knows it is in its best interests not to accept a second term for von der Leyen as a fait accompli. Even if it finally proves impossible to strike a grand bargain on Draghi, Paris will want to exert diplomatic leverage in talks over who gets the prime portfolios.

Regardless of who finally gets the top job, France’s priority is to create a more powerful economic slot in the Commission to improve EU competitiveness, potentially via an executive vice-president role. Paris would use that senior post to pursue more of its agenda of home-grown industrial champions, defensive trade policy and big public spending.