Slovak Finance Minister Peter Kažimír may be one of the candidates to replace the current head of the Eurogroup, an informal body of the ministers of the euro area member states, Jeroen Dijsselbloem.
Media outlets have speculated that Dijsselbloem may end his term earlier than in January 2018, when it will officially expire. Another potential candidate for the post is Spanish Finance Minister Luis de Guindos, the TASR newswire reported.
A reason for Dijsselbloem to leave the post may be the parliamentary elections in the Netherlands scheduled for March. The current polls suggest it is not very probable that the current coalition, part of which is also Dijsselbloem’s party, will stay in power.
Kažimír meanwhile responded to media reports by saying that Dijsselbloem is carrying out the job of Eurogroup president excellently, so his successor will have a tough act to follow. He personally believes that he would see his second 2.5-year mandate regardless of whether he becomes finance minister in the Netherlands after the March general election or not.
The minister added that he does not like speculation and does not engage in it.
“At the same time it’s certainly flattering to see oneself among those considered for the post,” Kažimír said, as quoted by TASR. “It’s a compliment not only for me, but also for the entire team behind me. It’s surely also feedback for the successful [EU Council] presidency and Slovakia’s trustworthiness abroad.”
