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| Citing Lack of Women in Top Jobs, European Parliament Rejects Male Nominee | Citing Lack of Women in Top Jobs, European Parliament Rejects Male Nominee |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| BRUSSELS — Asserting that it was fed up with only men in top jobs, the European Parliament on Thursday narrowly rejected the nomination of Yves Mersch to the executive board of the European Central Bank. | BRUSSELS — Asserting that it was fed up with only men in top jobs, the European Parliament on Thursday narrowly rejected the nomination of Yves Mersch to the executive board of the European Central Bank. |
| The Parliament does not have the power to require that women be considered, and governments still could approve the nomination of Mr. Mersch to a post that has been vacant for months even as the region’s sovereign debt crisis rumbles on. | The Parliament does not have the power to require that women be considered, and governments still could approve the nomination of Mr. Mersch to a post that has been vacant for months even as the region’s sovereign debt crisis rumbles on. |
| But if they still go ahead with the nomination, governments would pit themselves against the only directly elected body in the European Union over the diplomatically fragile issue of promoting gender balance. They also would be defying a majority of the Parliament during a period of heightened concern about making European institutions like the central bank more democratically accountable. | But if they still go ahead with the nomination, governments would pit themselves against the only directly elected body in the European Union over the diplomatically fragile issue of promoting gender balance. They also would be defying a majority of the Parliament during a period of heightened concern about making European institutions like the central bank more democratically accountable. |
| The vote took place at a full session of the Parliament in Strasbourg, France, where 325 members voted against the appointment, 300 voted in favor and 49 abstained. | The vote took place at a full session of the Parliament in Strasbourg, France, where 325 members voted against the appointment, 300 voted in favor and 49 abstained. |
| The Parliament must be consulted on nominations to the E.C.B. board, but its opinion does not bind governments. | |
| In a statement, the Parliament said its members had rejected putting “men only” at the central bank, and it noted that governments had shown “intransigence in failing to commit to a better gender balance within what is effectively Europe’s most powerful financial institution.” | In a statement, the Parliament said its members had rejected putting “men only” at the central bank, and it noted that governments had shown “intransigence in failing to commit to a better gender balance within what is effectively Europe’s most powerful financial institution.” |
| The motivations behind such a high-profile vote were probably more complex. Some members seeking a greater role for the Parliament may have seen an opportunity to challenge the power that governments still exercise over the European Union. | |
| Other members may have been expressing dislike of some of Mr. Mersch’s economic ideas — in particular a wariness of inflation. | |
| And some may continue to be miffed that a northern European, rather than a representative from southern Europe, had not been selected to replace José Manuel González-Páramo of Spain, whose term expired on May 31. | |
| Mr. Mersch, the head of the central bank of Luxembourg, is known for his hawkish stance on inflation. He was nominated by euro area finance ministers in July. | |
| Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council, which represents the European Union’s leaders, told the Parliament on Tuesday that Mr. Mersch’s appointment should proceed based on his professional qualifications and experience. Mr. Van Rompuy also said he had asked the union’s member governments to suggest more female candidates in the future. | Herman Van Rompuy, the president of the European Council, which represents the European Union’s leaders, told the Parliament on Tuesday that Mr. Mersch’s appointment should proceed based on his professional qualifications and experience. Mr. Van Rompuy also said he had asked the union’s member governments to suggest more female candidates in the future. |
| But Mr. Van Rompuy’s appeal did little to sway the opinion of some of the Parliament’s most influential members, including Sharon Bowles, a British member who heads the economic and monetary affairs committee. | But Mr. Van Rompuy’s appeal did little to sway the opinion of some of the Parliament’s most influential members, including Sharon Bowles, a British member who heads the economic and monetary affairs committee. |
| “Mr. Van Rompuy has not taken the opportunity to offer more than lip service to what is a very serious matter,” Ms. Bowles said after the vote on Thursday. “He has promised nothing, not even a road map, for appointing women to the E.C.B. board in the future.” | “Mr. Van Rompuy has not taken the opportunity to offer more than lip service to what is a very serious matter,” Ms. Bowles said after the vote on Thursday. “He has promised nothing, not even a road map, for appointing women to the E.C.B. board in the future.” |
| Ms. Bowles said two years had gone by without an adequate response from governments on the lack of female candidates. | Ms. Bowles said two years had gone by without an adequate response from governments on the lack of female candidates. |
| A spokesman for Mr. Van Rompuy said that he had no immediate comment on the outcome. | A spokesman for Mr. Van Rompuy said that he had no immediate comment on the outcome. |
| A spokesman for the Luxembourg central bank said on Thursday that Mr. Mersch had no comment at this stage. | A spokesman for the Luxembourg central bank said on Thursday that Mr. Mersch had no comment at this stage. |
| Sven Giegold, a member from Germany and a spokesman on economic and monetary affairs for the Greens group, said after the vote that there had been no women on the board since 2011, when Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of Austria left the board at the end of an eight-year term. Mr. Giegold noted that there were no female presidents of European central banks. | Sven Giegold, a member from Germany and a spokesman on economic and monetary affairs for the Greens group, said after the vote that there had been no women on the board since 2011, when Gertrude Tumpel-Gugerell of Austria left the board at the end of an eight-year term. Mr. Giegold noted that there were no female presidents of European central banks. |
| “With no change anticipated on the E.C.B. board before 2018, this means that women will be excluded from the euro zone’s highest decision-making bodies for the near future,” said Mr. Giegold, who called on Mr. Mersch to withdraw his candidacy. | “With no change anticipated on the E.C.B. board before 2018, this means that women will be excluded from the euro zone’s highest decision-making bodies for the near future,” said Mr. Giegold, who called on Mr. Mersch to withdraw his candidacy. |
| Hannes Swoboda, an Austrian member who is the president of the group of Socialists and Democrats, said in a Facebook chat after the vote that the Parliament could not stop the nomination of Mr. Mersch. But he warned that lawmakers would see it “as a seriously unfriendly act.” | Hannes Swoboda, an Austrian member who is the president of the group of Socialists and Democrats, said in a Facebook chat after the vote that the Parliament could not stop the nomination of Mr. Mersch. But he warned that lawmakers would see it “as a seriously unfriendly act.” |