It is official: the Government confirms Mário Centeno applied for the leadership of Eurogroup
After much speculation, the Portuguese Finance minister has really applied for the presidency of the Eurogroup.
Mário Centeno has is running for the presidency of the Eurogroup, the informal group of Finance ministers of the Euro Area, according to the prime minister’s office, this Thursday. If he wins next Monday’s voting, on December 4, the Portuguese Finance minister will take Jeroen Dijsselbloem’s place.
“The Portuguese Government has presented the Finance minister’s application for the presidency of the Eurogroup. The election will take place on the next meeting of the Eurogroup, scheduled for this Monday, December 4″, is read in a note from the Government sent to newsrooms.
Those applying had until 11 a.m., Lisbon time zone, to enter the race. This Thursday, Centeno was appointed as a favorite by the Financial Times. The British newspaper signals European leaders prefer Mário Centeno to his main contender, the Italian Pier Carlo Padoan.
