The governor of the Bank of Portugal refused to comment on Mário Centeno’s early retirement. Questioned by RTP during participation in the preparation simulation for a tsunami, in Lisbon, on the morning of Tuesday, March 24, Álvaro Santos Pereira stated that “it is not today” that he will talk about the situation, referring any questions about the institution to the following day, when the current Economic Bulletin will be released.
“Any questions you have about Banco de Portugal will be answered tomorrow. Today, the important thing is that people participate in this type of simulation, that we can better plan for eventualities, whether storms, fires, earthquakes, that is what we have to do, make our society more resilient”said the governor, who, moments earlier, confirmed that he interrupted a meeting of the board of directors in order to participate in the simulation.
Former governor Mário Centeno will leave the BdP under the retirement regime under the existing pension fund at the central bank, following an agreement between the two parties. The former Finance Minister is expected to receive a pension worth around 10 thousand euros gross, which has caused controversy. The value is slightly lower than the value of the pension he would be entitled to if he remained at the institution, where he could continue working until the age of 70, and also lower than the salary of 15 thousand euros gross that he received as a consultant to the BdP board of directors.
Mário Centeno was governor of BdP between 2020 and 2025, but had already worked at the institution as an economist from 2000, was deputy director of the Department of Economic Studies from 2004 to 2013 and consultant to the BdP Board of Directors between December 2013 and November 2015.
Álvaro Santos Pereira will even respond to the deputies of the Assembly of the Republic, after a hearing requested by Chega.
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