PS defends the reappointment of Mário Centeno and accuses Ventura of ignorance

The PS considered this Saturday that the competence of the governor of the Bank of Portugal, Mário Centeno, is recognized and that “a lot of justification” would be necessary for him not to be reappointed for a second term and accused the leader of Chega of ignorance.

“Professor Mário Centeno is probably one of the most qualified people in Portugal and a lot of justification would be needed, or a very plausible justification, for his non-reappointment,” said PS deputy António Mendonça Mendes in statements to the Lusa news agency.

Mendonça Mendes considered that Mário Centeno – who, before being appointed governor of the Bank of Portugal (BdP), in 2020, was the PS's Minister of Finance – is “a person recognized by the Portuguese, and in particular by the sector he supervises, as someone very competent, very rigorous and very independent in his role”.

“And, therefore, Professor Mário Centeno is someone who does not hide what he thinks, but never, under any circumstances, exercises his mandate beyond what is his obligation”, he stated.

The PS deputy, who was Secretary of State for Tax Affairs in three governments, two of which were led by Mário Centeno, also reacted to statements made by the leader of Chega, André Ventura, who, this Friday, requested a hearing in the Assembly of the Republic of the governor of the BdP, accusing him of having kept the economic forecasts until after the elections with the intention of favouring the AD Government, which Mendonça Mendes considered to be ignorance.

“Ignorance is very bold”, considered the PS deputy, who highlighted that the BdP is an “independent and highly respected entity”, which, in 2023, 2024 and 2025, always published its Economic Bulletin in March, June, October and December.

“The Bank of Portugal publishes its Economic Bulletin on dates that are previously defined. Therefore, anyone who is unaware of this will naturally dare to say things that are not true,” he criticized.

Mário Centeno's term as head of the BdP ends on July 20 and the governor has already shown his willingness to continue, but the decision is now in the hands of the AD Government.

This Friday, at the press conference in which he presented the June Economic Bulletin, Mário Centeno said he was “always available to the country”, when asked about his future after the end of his term as governor of the BdP.

“I have a mandate to fulfill, I would say fulfilled, I will always be available to the country, whether in the Government, at the BdP, or at a university doing what I like most, which is talking”, said the governor of the BdP, when asked about his future, at the press conference to present the June Economic Bulletin.