João Relvas / LUSA
Álvaro Santos Pereira and Mário Centeno
Álvaro Santos Pereira’s term begins this Tuesday. But Mário Centeno must continue at the institution, as a consultant.
It’s the day that the Banco de Portugal “changes hands”: Álvaro Santos Pereira is the new governor. His term begins this Tuesday.
The economic bulletin, with estimates for the growth of gross domestic product (GDP), with price forecasts and forecasts about the job market.
One document which was prepared when Mario Centeno was the governor. In other words, Santos Pereira’s mandate begins with predictions that the governor himself did not prepare, summarizes the .
Álvaro Santos Pereira will not present the document at a press conference. But the new governor is “totally in favor of the banco be the as open as possible. Not only open press conferences, but there will be many occasions when the governor, deputy governors, administrators and directors and other members of Banco de Portugal will speak to people”, he assured.
Santos Pereira has already met with senior management at the bank – and left good impression with administrators and directors, also according to Jornal de Negócios.
The two together
The new governor has also been with the old governor. In August and September, Álvaro Santos Pereira and Mário Centeno have already spokenhave already organized themselves in relation to the transition of folders.
Mário Centeno leaves, but doesn’t leave. Will be a consultant of the administration of Banco de Portugal, indicates the .
But Álvaro Santos Pereira doesn’t agree: “I don’t know what Mário Centeno is going to do. He, as a member of the bank, can continue. It’s his prerogative. I know what I would do: I, being governor, I would never stay on the bench after being governor – but everyone does what they want”, he commented a few weeks ago.
And several Banco de Portugal sources warn: these two “Popes”, together, will not work. They will create a coexistence “unsustainable”comments one of the sources.
Because, according to the same newspaper, this replacement of governor is being more acidic, probably ever.
It should be remembered that Mário Centeno did not lead the Bank of Portugal for two terms (10 years), as happened with other governors in the 21st century: Carlos Costa and Vítor Constâncio.
Upon taking office, this Monday, Álvaro Santos Pereira promised that, as governor, he will apply “attentive and demanding” supervision. And he will make changes to the Bank of Portugal, as in the organic law, which “requires modernization”.
“We intend to honor the bank’s history but do so by breaking down silos and inefficiencies”, added the former Minister of Economy.
