A staunch champion of the independence of the bank, Mr Ciampi will not want to hold both offices for long.

Jemmy was a favorite pupil of hers, and she was his staunchest champion.

Even staunch champions of fiscal discipline acknowledge that budget deficits over the next few years are not in themselves disastrous.

He was a staunch champion of the British Empire and the Imperial Federation Movement and went on lecture tours to further the cause.

His charge prompted a wave of public criticism of news organizations that was joined by some who have normally been among the press's staunchest champions.

David Drew, Weill's staunchest champion in Britain, called the composer "one of music's great might-have-beens," since he had abandoned his supposed modernist mission.

The European Parliament has always been a staunch champion of the political, economic and cultural benefits of enlargement.

Mr. Bruccoli is a staunch champion of the version of the novel he and his wife have edited.

Mr. King is a consistently staunch champion of wimps everywhere.

During his days as a candidate, Mr. Giuliani was one of its staunchest champions.