Spain's Nadia Calviño is poised to take the helm of the European Investment Bank (EIB), making history as the institution's first female and Spanish president. Her appointment, effective from January 1, comes after receiving unanimous support from EU finance ministers. Calviño, a multilingual leader with a robust background in both Spanish politics and the European Commission, was chosen over her competitor Margrethe Vestager.
Calviño's career highlights include senior roles under former Spanish Prime Ministers Jose Maria Aznar and Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and a stint as director general of the EU Commission's budget department. In 2018, she made her political debut in Prime Minister Sanchez’s cabinet and has since been a key figure in Spain's economic landscape. Notably, she has chaired the IMF’s monetary and financial committee since December last year.
As Spain’s Economy Minister, Calviño successfully steered the country through economic challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict. Under her guidance, Spain achieved significant growth while keeping inflation rates low.
Calviño is also recognized for her dedication to gender equality. She made headlines for boycotting a Madrid employers' federation photo opportunity due to its lack of female representation, underscoring her commitment to challenging gender disparities within power circles.
Her endorsement by EU finance ministers was notably backed by Belgium's Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem, reflecting broad support for her candidacy. As she prepares to succeed Werner Hoyer at the EIB, Calviño's diverse experience and advocacy are expected to influence her leadership style at one of Europe's key financial institutions.
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