Tags: draghi | press conference | protester | desk
Draghi's Press Conference Disrupted as Protester Jumps on Desk
A Femen activist stands on the table of the podium throwing paper at ECB President Mario Draghi, left, during a press conference of the European Central Bank, ECB, in Frankfurt, Germany, Wednesday, April 15, 2015. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

Draghi's Press Conference Disrupted as Protester Jumps on Desk

Wednesday, 15 April 2015 09:16 AM EDT


A female protester interrupted the European Central Bank's press conference on Wednesday, screaming "End ECB dictatorship" while she rushed the podium and threw confetti at President Mario Draghi.

The action happened as Draghi was delivering opening remarks after the bank's latest policy meeting.

Some activists accuse the ECB of enforcing budget austerity measures on eurozone countries, such as Greece, that are under financial bailout programs.

Draghi reappeared on stage a few minutes later and carried on with his comments.

He said the ECB intends to pursue its existing bond-buying stimulus program "until the end of September 2016 and, in any case, until we see a sustained adjustment in the path of inflation." Inflation at minus 0.1 percent is way below the ECB's aim of 2 percent.

There was some speculation that because of a recent improvement in the economy of the 19-country eurozone, the ECB might end its stimulus program before that date.

In his statement, Draghi noted that the ECB would look beyond month-by-month swings in economic data when assessing how long to carry on with the stimulus.

The stimulus hopes to lower market interest rates, which tends to boost lending and, by extension, economic activity. The U.S. Federal Reserve has used a similar program.

Draghi said the stimulus program is proceeding smoothly and has helped lower market interest rates.

© Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


Markets
European Central Bank President Mario Draghi's press conference was briefly suspended on Wednesday after a protester jumped on the table in front of him and disrupted proceedings.
draghi, press conference, protester, desk
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2015-16-15
Wednesday, 15 April 2015 09:16 AM
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