Since I was appointed ECB president, just to give you an example, I remember the general election in Spain, changing the government, the general election in Italy, changing the government, the general election in Germany, changing the coalition, the general election in the Netherlands, the general election in France … On 35 hours let me say that there is an overwhelming consensus the world over to consider that it was a bad decision.
FT: You talked about a vivid democracy. Remember 1992-94. These were tough years for you, as governor of the Banque de France, and you stayed with it despite all sorts of political  2  BIS Review 50/2007  criticism. You must have thought that that period was over. And then suddenly the French presidential election, and you’re back in the firing line.