Eurogroup President Jeroen Dijsselbloem won a second term Monday as head of the group of 19 eurozone finance ministers, capping three days of marathon negotiations on a bailout package for Greece.
The Dutch politician’s leadership during the complicated and tense Greek crisis talks helped to secure his reelection, which was unanimous, according to a statement from the group.
Once Dijsselbloem picked up 10 votes at Monday’s meeting, the remaining countries decided to vote unanimously, said Spanish Finance Minister Luis de Guindos, who was the main challenger in the race.
“He got more votes than me, so he won,” de Guindos said as he left the meeting. Asked how many votes he actually received, the Spanish minister said it was not the time to comment and emphasized that no country had betrayed him.
Spain recently lost a seat on the European Central Bank’s governing board and, given its size, has felt slighted that it doesn’t have enough positions of prominence within the eurozone.
“Spain deserves it, Spain deserves it,” de Guindos said, referring to the issue of underrepresentation, but he accepted the results.
“Nobody deceived me,” he added.
The Eurogroup, which handles issues such as fiscal pacts that refine the currency union’s operations, has found itself at the center of dramatic negotiations over a rescue package to keep Greece in the eurozone. Dijsselbloem’s ability to handle this situation earned him the admiration of his colleagues in recent weeks.
Asked why he would want to continue in the job, Dijsselbloem said that he’s dedicated to improving how the member-state governments work together.
“There were moments that I put myself the same question,” he told reporters after his reelection. “To manage and improve that process for me is a great honor.”
“Personally I think it’s a valid point that Spain, as a large country has a right to be represented in the higher functions of our union,” Dijsselbloem added. “It’s not a legal right, but i think it’s a fair point. So I think there will be other opportunities.”
On his relationship with de Guindos, Dijsselbloem said: “We have always worked closely together, and there is absolutely nothing that will stand in the way of that.”