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Protester rushes ECB chief Draghi at press conference
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A protester interrupted the European Central Bank's press conference on Wednesday, screaming "End ECB dictatorship" while she leaped onto the podium and threw confetti at President Mario Draghi.
Security guards dragged the woman off the stage in seconds and took Draghi into a side room.
Draghi returned minutes later looking a little shaken but resumed his press conference, earning a small round of applause from the press corps at the end for his composure. An ECB spokesman said the bank was investigating the incident.
Some left-wing activists accuse the ECB of enforcing budget austerity measures on eurozone countries, such as Greece, that are under financial bailout programs. It has also been accused of having too few women in top positions.
As attention returned to ECB policy, Draghi said the bank 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.
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