Paper wants spiked helmet back

GERMAN best-selling daily Bild wanted back a Prussian spiked helmet dating from 1871 that it gave Mario Draghi earlier this year if the European Central Bank president were to “go soft” and veer away from Prussian-style discipline, it said yesterday.

“No more German money for bankrupt states, Herr Draghi!” was the Bild headline over a picture of Draghi laughing heartily as he accepted the spiked helmet from Bild editors in his office five months ago. “Otherwise Bild wants the ‘Pickelhaube’ back.” Draghi, according to Bild, has kept the black and gold helmet prominently displayed on a shelf in his office.

“Draghi is letting himself go soft with indebted nations like Spain and Italy,” Bild wrote. – Reuters