On Wednesday 14 May, the members of the European Parliament approved, by a small majority (331 votes to 306 and 64 abstentions), the appointment, from June, of Luis de Guindos, who has recently stepped down from the position of Spanish Finance Minister, to the vice-presidency of the European Central Bank (ECB), to replace Portugal's Vitor Constancio.
The vote was preceded by intensive discussions and debates between the various political groups. The European Parliament's economic and financial affairs (ECON) committee managed to approve the appointment (see EUROPE 11970) by proposal of the Eurogroup (see EUROPE 11965). However, it made clear its misgivings concerning the recruitment process, having expressed its preference for the former Irish candidate, Philip Lane, just a few days previously. It also regretted the fact that no women are represented in key positions of the ECB (see EUROPE 11962).
Although this plenary vote is only consultative, certain groups saw it as a way of sending out a political message to the Eurogroup. Roberto Gualtieri (S&D, Italy), the chair of the European Parliament's ECON committee, wrote to Mario Centeno ahead of the vote to express the concerns of the MEPs.
The Eurogroup president replied to him on Tuesday 13 February, the day before the European Parliament's vote. His responses were considered unsatisfactory by the Left. On behalf of the Greens/EFA Group, Sven Giegold (Germany) called for the vote to be postponed, a suggestion that did not find much favour among the MEPs.
The Socialists were more divided. Although most of the delegations decided to take position against the appointment of de Guindos, the Portuguese and Spanish delegations abstained.
The ambassadors of the member states to the EU (Coreper) will enshrine this decision on Thursday 15 March. (Original version in French by Lucas Tripoteau)