Vital ECB post up for grabs

FINANCE ministers are expected to name the new appointee for the vacant seat at the European Central Bank today when they will also discuss nominations for the International Monetary Fund position.

The nominees are Ireland’s European Investment Bank member Michael Tutty; Belgian Central Banker Peter Praet and Spain’s Jose Manuel Gonzalez-Paramoto.

At present Ireland’s nominee appears to have the least chance, partly because with Ireland holding the EU Presidency, Finance Minister Charlie McCreevy is not in a position to lobby for him as hard as he could otherwise.