Italian ex-premier Enrico Letta tipped for EC presidency

(ANSA) - Brussels, June 12 - Former Italian premier Enrico Letta is favoured to succeed Herman Van Rompuy as president of the European Council, qualified sources within the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) said Thursday.
    The sources called centre-left Democratic Party (PD) member with strong centre-right ties the "ideal solution" thanks to his reputation as an able bipartisan negotiator and direct knowledge of EU institutions. Letta, who successfully cobbled together a right-left coalition government in Italy after inconclusive parliament elections last year, is seen as the "perfect compromise" between Socialists and the centre-right EPP, according to unofficial EPP sources.