The 19 finance ministers of the euro area are looking for a new president, at a time when the region is facing tough negotiations over a 750 billion euro ($851 billion) fiscal plan to help it recover from the coronavirus crisis.
The Eurogroup, which brings together the finance chiefs of countries that share the euro, will welcome applications from Thursday afternoon in a process that’s due to be concluded by July 9.
It comes after Mario Centeno, the current Eurogroup president, resigned from the Portuguese government, where he had served as a finance minister since October 2015. Being a sitting finance minister is a precondition to serve as Eurogroup chief.
Even before the official process begins, there are three names being mentioned as potential candidates: Spain’s finance minister Nadia Calvino, Luxembourg’s finance chief Pierre Gramegna and, from Ireland, Paschal Donohoe.
