Instead of the end of the year as planned, the government is expected to launch the tender for the future four-member board of directors of the National Bank next Saturday. Apparently they want to install the right people quickly before the elections. According to information from “Krone”, Othmar Karas is also discussed as head of the central bank.
The ÖVP politician is currently Vice-President of the EU Parliament and often deals with financial issues there. However, he will no longer participate in the upcoming EU elections. There is speculation about his possible candidacy in the domestic elections for the National Council with his own list against the ÖVP; he hasn’t denied this yet. However, an appointment by the government as head of the National Bank would, as it were, take him out of the race.
There is therefore no time pressure for the tender, which is carried out by the General Council of the OeNB under the chairmanship of Chairman of the Economic Chamber, Harald Mahrer. The current top contracts will gradually expire next year. Governor Robert Holzmann, who is considered closely linked to the FP, will remain in office until the end of August 2025. Vice boss Gottfried Haber and Eduard Schock will be there in July, Thomas Steiner’s mandate ends in April.
Source: Krone
I’m Ben Stock, a journalist and author at Today Times Live. I specialize in economic news and have been working in the news industry for over five years. My experience spans from local journalism to international business reporting. In my career I’ve had the opportunity to interview some of the world’s leading economists and financial experts, giving me an insight into global trends that is unique among journalists.
