Is Mário Centeno's Future at the Banco de Portugal in Jeopardy? Insights from Finance Minister

Uncertainty Surrounds Centeno's Reappointment as Governor of Banco de Portugal

The reappointment of Mário Centeno for a second term as the Governor of the Banco de Portugal (BdP) has not yet been discussed within the government, according to Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento. He emphasized that it is too early to address this topic, as Centeno's current term does not end until July.

During a press conference following the Council of Ministers meeting, where a package of fiscal simplification measures was approved, Sarmento stated that no decision has been made regarding Centeno's continuation in the role.

“The topic has never been discussed in the Council of Ministers, nor have I had any conversations about it with the Prime Minister. We will make a decision as we approach the end of the mandate, which is still six months away,” Sarmento asserted.

Speculation arose after SIC reported, without citing sources, that the government had already decided against reappointing Centeno. When asked if he contradicted this information or if there was a possibility of Centeno being nominated for a second term, Sarmento reiterated his earlier comments.

Centeno, who has held the position since July 2020, expressed his desire for reappointment in a recent interview. He stated, “My focus is to complete my mandate, and I am performing my duties with the expectation of fulfilling a second term.” This intention was previously mentioned in a podcast interview last year, where he remarked that his goal is to reach July next year in a position to secure a second mandate, leaving the final decision to the political sphere.