00:01Meet Super Mario, a former Italian Prime Minister, ex-head of the European Central Bank,
00:08and a man currently spinning the threads of Europe's fate.
00:12You don't believe me? Just listen to that.
00:15Do we remain merely a large market, subject to the priorities of others?
00:20Or do we take the steps necessary to become one power?
00:24So why is this retired banker suddenly the most important man in Europe?
00:29Level 1.
00:31During the 2012 financial crisis, he famously promised to do whatever it takes to save the Euro.
00:37And his policies save the currency you're using now every day.
00:42But the price was high.
00:43He was the face of austerity.
00:46And if you are from Southern Europe, you know exactly the meaning behind cuts, unemployment,
00:52and a legendary battle with his nemesis, Greek minister Yanis Varoufakis.
00:57And Varoufakis wanted to end the belt tightening measures.
01:01But our Mario simply pulled the plug on Greek banks to force a deal.
01:06Level 2.
01:08Fast forward to 2026.
01:10The EU is losing the competitiveness game against the US and China.
01:14But Mario's new power-up is called Pragmatic Federalism?
01:19Or in translation, Too Speed Europe.
01:22So, if 27 EU members cannot agree, the willing ones should run ahead, united by common borrowing to fund defense
01:30and tech.
01:31And just like in a video game, our Mario is arriving today at a real castle, Alden Basin, in Belgium.
01:40And he is on a mission to convince 27 leaders to share the credit card bill.
01:46But here is the glitch.
01:48Our Mario can write the cheat codes, but he's not the one holding the controller.
01:53The European leaders are...
01:55And remember, in a video game, if you lose, you just press restart.
02:00But in the real economy, there is no such a button.
02:04So will he do whatever it takes to save the princess?
02:07We are about to find out.
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