EU Parliament rejects candidate for ECB top post

[October 25, 2012]  BRUSSELS (AP) -- The European Parliament has rejected Luxembourg's top central banker to a post at the European Central Bank in protest at the lack of women among the top leadership of the bank.

The unprecedented rejection came during Thursday's vote at the legislature in Strasbourg, France, where 325 parliamentarians voted against the appointment of Yves Mersch, 25 more those who voted in favor. There were 49 abstentions.

The chairwoman of the monetary affairs committee says the gender imbalance needs more than just "talk and promises."

The ECB currently has no women among its top leadership.

Despite the vote, Europe's parliamentarians cannot block Mersch's nomination for a seat on the six-member ECB executive board. The vote is only advisory.

The board runs the bank day to day from Frankfurt, Germany.

[Associated Press]

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