Mário Centeno emerges as a strong candidate for the presidency of the European Banking Authority (EBA), according to the newspaper Eco.
The former governor of the Bank of Portugal and former Minister of Finance will be able to count on the support of Christine Lagarde, current president of the European Central Bank (ECB), if he decides to move forward with his candidacy.
Although the ECB does not have a direct influence on the selection process, Lagarde’s support could be an important asset for Centeno.
Despite his history as minister and president of the Eurogroup, Centeno has not confirmed, so far, his interest in running for the position.
Eco also revealed that Lagarde tried, during the summer, to convince Luís Montenegro to support Centeno’s reappointment for a second term as governor of the Bank of Portugal. However, the Government decided to replace Centeno with Álvaro Santos Pereira.
Last week, an international competition was opened to find a successor for José Manuel Campa, who left the EBA presidency in September.
Candidates have until November 7th to submit their CVs and application letters, after which a committee will select ten candidates for interviews. Of these, six will be presented to the EBA Board of Supervisors.
The EBA plays a crucial role in the supervision and regulation of the European banking sector, ensuring the stability and transparency of the financial system, as well as carrying out stress tests that assess the resilience of banks in adverse economic scenarios.