Lisbon, Jan. 16, 2025 (Lusa) - The government will decide on Mário Centeno's reappointment as governor of the Bank of Portugal closer to the end of his term, the finance minister said on Thursday.

"The issue was never discussed in the cabinet meeting, it was never the subject of any conversation between me and the prime minister and we will reflect on it and make a decision when the mandate is nearing its end," reiterated Joaquim Miranda Sarmento at the press conference after the cabnet meeting.

The minister also said that any news on the subject is "extemporaneous", referring to a SIC report, released today, which said that Centeno would not be reappointed.

The former finance minister in António Costa's government has been governor since 20 July 2020, with a five-year term, which will end in July this year.

The position of governor of the Bank of Portugal is only renewable once, for a term of the same length.

In an interview with RTP3 this Wednesday evening, Mário Centeno said that in the past he had said he was working towards a second term as governor and that "this objective" remains the same because he has never worked to just "pass with 50%".

"My focus is on completing my term of office, there is a second term, I have never carried out my duties to pass mark of just 50%," said Centeno.

MES/ADB // ADB.

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