Wolfgang Schauble’s deputy, Jorg Asmussen, has been appointed to succeed Stark on the ECB executive board. This nominee has not spoken out publicly on the issue of ECB bond buying. And since his appointment has to be endorsed by the Euro Zone Finance Ministers and heads of state, the European Parliament, and the ECB itself, he probably won’t. But if we are to speculate, we can deduce that he probably doesn’t like the expansion of the ECB role within the EU. For one thing, Wolfgang Schuable’s views are well known. Jorg Asmussen’s predecessor’s views are well known as are the views of most Germans. In addition he serves in a conservative administration, that of Angela Merkel.
The German view on such matters is critical. The EU can’t survive without German cooperation.