The change is expected to take place in September, after the hearing of Santos Pereira in the Assembly of the Republic. Centeno may also attend the next ECB meeting in September.
Banco de Portugal (BDP) confirms that the current governor, Mário Centeno, will continue to ahead of the institution until the name this Thursday chosen by the government to succeed him.
“The governor remains in office until replaced,” said BDP’s official source in response to Lusa questions.
The date of change is not yet known, but should only happen in September, after Santos Pereira is heard at the Assembly of the Republic.
Banco de Portugal’s confirmation about maintenance in centeno duties after the government has decided not to reappoint it for a second term of five years.
The choice of successor fell on OECD’s current chief economist and former Minister of Economics of Pedro Passos Coelho (PSD/CDS-PP) between 2011 and 2013, which the government considers to be a “better choice” than keeping the current governor, former Minister of Finance of Governments of António Costa (PS) between 2015 and 2020.
The Banco de Portugal Organic Law determines that the governor is appointed only by resolution of the Council of Ministers after being heard to the Parliamentary Committee (finance area) and after this issue a (non -binding) opinion.
As Parliament ends on Friday its regular operation before the holidays and only commissions meetings are planned from the beginning of September, the hearing of Santos Pereira should only occur at that time.
Given this calendar, the current governor will still be able to attend the next meeting of the European Central Bank, 10 and 11 of this month.
Asked if this will happen, the official source of the BDP said nothing.
Mario Centeno’s mandate ended on July 19. Since the executive of Luís Montenegro only announced the successor after this date and, in the last week of regular parliamentary work, the change in late leadership was already a possibility mentioned in recent weeks.
