Spanish finance minister hits out after Ireland wins another top job
Spain's economy minister has accused another eurozone member of betrayal after narrowly missing out in a bid to lead the bloc's finance group.
Nadia Calvino had been the favourite to replace Portugal’s Mario Centeno as president of the influential 19-member Eurogroup, but was defeated by Ireland's Paschal Donohoe. He will begin his term on Monday alongside his current role as finance minister in Dublin.
Speaking to Spanish radio, Ms Calvino said: "We had 10 votes secured. Someone didn't do what he said he was going to do. The vote is secret and, in this case, remote."
She declined to name the minister she suspects of welshing.
The Eurogroup is not an official European Union body, but the job is regarded as one of the organisation's most powerful roles along with the heads of the European Commission, EU Council and the European Parliament.
It will take on particular significance as Mr Donohoe attempts to steer the bloc through what is expected to be a recession of historic depths. The eurozone economy is set to contract by a record 8.7pc this year.
Mr Donohue has strongly criticised deficits and increases in government spending.
He also opposes a potential EU digital sales tax on tech titans such as Amaon, which Ms Calvino vocally supported. Ireland hosts the European operations for some of Silicon Valley's biggest players due to its low taxes.
Mr Donohue said: "I'm deeply conscious that the citizens of Europe are looking at where their national economies now stand, are looking at the European economy, and have become concerned, have become fearful again for their futures, for their jobs and for their incomes.
"As great as the challenges are, and I know how deep they are, I am absolutely confident that with my colleagues in the Eurogroup, with our governments, we have the ability and we have laid the foundations to overcome these challenges and to prevail.”
Ireland has captured a string of senior Brussels roles after forging alliances with the Baltic and so-called Benelux countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg in the aftermath of Brexit.
Former Irish central bank governor Philip Lane is now chief economist at the European Central Bank, while Dublin's former environment minister Phil Hogan is the European trade commissioner.
