ECB has put Europe on a collision course with Donald Trump

Plan to cut interest rates and continue QE is an exchange-rate policy in all but name

On 12 September, the European Central Bank decided to launch yet another asset-purchase programme, with plans to buy a20bn ($22bn) in new securities per month for an indefinite period of time, using the same structure as it has in the past. The decision was not made unanimously: the German, French, Dutch, Austrian, and Estonian members of the ECB council have all voiced fierce opposition to further quantitative easing (QE).

ECB president Mario Draghi claims that the majority in favour of further loosening was so large that it was unnecessary even to count the votes. Never mind that the countries opposing the decision hold 56% of the ECB's paid-in equity capital and account for 60% of eurozone output. Counting their compatriots on the ECB governing council, however, they have only seven out of 25 potential votes (subject to a rotating limitation). Draghi did have a majority, then, but it represented a very clear minority of the ECB's liable capital. This raises considerable concerns about the governing council's decision-making process.