Lisbon, Jan. 9, 2026 (Lusa) - The Ministry of Finance announced on Friday that on Thursday, it submitted the candidacy of former Bank of Portugal Governor Mário Centeno for the vice-presidency of the European Central Bank (ECB) to the President of the Eurogroup.

"Having received Mário Centeno's expression of interest in applying for the position of Vice-President of the European Central Bank, the Portuguese government submitted his application to the President of the Eurogroup yesterday [Thursday] at the end of the day," said a one-paragraph statement released today by the Ministry of Finance.

On Thursday, Mário Centeno told Eco that he was available to succeed Luis de Guindos as Vice-President of the ECB, assuring that he was "motivated and qualified" for the position.

The first position to become vacant at the ECB will be that of Vice-President, following the end of Luis de Guindos' term on 31 May 2026. Applications will then be opened to replace chief economist Philip Lane in May 2027 and president Christine Lagarde in October of that year.

In November, the finance minister said that the government "always welcomes" a Portuguese candidate for a senior European position, when asked about Mário Centeno's possible candidacy.

"The government, naturally, as always, and as happened, for example, with Dr António Costa [former prime minister, now President of the European Council] recently, always welcomes it when a Portuguese citizen can attain an international position," Joaquim Miranda Sarmento said at the time.

The deadline for eurozone Member States to submit candidates for the position of ECB Vice-President ends today.

According to the media, the countries that have come forward to present candidates for the position include Spain, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Croatia and Lithuania. Among the most prominent names are former Finnish European Commissioner Olli Rehn and Croatian economist Boris Vujčić.

JO/ADB // ADB.

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