The eight-year mandate of the president of the future European Central Bank cannot be officially split but nobody can prevent the incumbent from resigning during his term, European Commissioner MrYves-Thibault de Silguy has said. The Monetary Affairs commissioner was commenting on problems in choosing the first president of the ECB, with the German-supported Dutch candidate Mr Wim Duisenberg and the French candidate, Mr Jean-Claude Trichet, the French central bank governor, both refusing to back out of the race.

European Union members can only name an ECB president for the eight-year mandate provided for under the Maastricht Treaty, Mr de Silguy told reporters on the sidelines of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development annual ministerial meeting in Paris.

"But you cannot prevent someone from resigning" before the end of his term if he wants, he said. There has been much speculation that Mr Trichet and Mr Duisenberg will agree, at least privately, to share the mandate in some form. The question may be settled at a special EU summit on the euro in Brussels on Saturday. However, the ECB does not have to be in place until July 1st, so a decision could be delayed. Meanwhile, the Bundesbank has indicated that is does not favour a split-term for the first ECB head, as it could undermine the independence of the first president.

Analysts said the central bank is effectively using the one weapon at its disposal - its influence on public opinion - to try to ensure that Europe does not split the term. Reports have hinted that the bank is reopening its discussion on EMU because of the clash.