20/02/2018 (Agence Europe) – Speaking after the Ecofin Council on Tuesday 20 February, France’s Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said the decision to appoint Luis de Guindos to the vice-presidency of the European Central Bank (ECB) “in no way prejudged choices that will be made for the senior European posts next year”. He was referring to the posts of president of the ECB, the European Council and the European Commission to be filled in 2019. “We are not in a game of chess where the sides move their pawns forward”, he added. On Monday 19 February, the Eurogroup selected de Guindos as Vitor Constancio’s successor (see EUROPE 11964). On Tuesday, European finance ministers adopted a formal recommendation to the attention of the European Council with a view to the formal appointment of de Guindos in March, for a term of office beginning in June. (LT)