France has taken the step forward and has decided to support the candidacy of the Spanish Nadia Calvino, current economy minister in the Sanchez government, at the helm of the Eurogroup. The endorsement came from Paris Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire, a few hours before the meeting of the 19 finance ministers of the Eurozone who will have to elect the president in place of the Portuguese Mario Centeno. “We share the same will with Spain for stronger integration of the eurozone,” Le Maire said.
The other two candidates in the running are the popular Irish Paschal Donohoe, who would have the support of Germany and the "frugal", and the Luxembourg liberal Pierre Gramegna.
Calvino also received the support of Italy, publicly affirmed by Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on a visit to Madrid on Wednesday: “An excellent candidacy and I agree with Prime Minister Sanchez on the fact that being a woman is an added value. If the candidacy were to be crowned, it would be a presidency in everyone's interest. We certainly support it."
The Spanish finance minister works for a socialist government and if she were to take the place of the outgoing Portuguese socialist Mario Centeno, her investiture would ensure that the political and geographical balances of a Europe of states and parties, always attentive to checks and balances, remained unchanged. Also adding a woman to the top of the Union. In fact, she would join Angela Merkel, current president of the EU Council for the current semester, and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission. But you will have to face resistance from the frugal (Austria, Holland, etc.) and it won't be easy.
The Southwestern Bloc likes Calvino (Portugal, Spain, Italy, Malta) and to the Lithuania, under socialist leadership, and could also count on the support of the slovaks. It is independent within a socialist government, since 2006 he has worked in the Commission first as Deputy Director-General in the Directorate-General for Competition, then as Deputy Director-General in the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, and as Deputy Director-General in the Directorate-General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets Union. From 2014 to 2018, Calviño served as director general of the budget. You know Europe and its rules, and would represent an important piece in the renewal of Europe by improving gender balance.
