By David Barwick – FRANKFURT (Econostream) – European Investment Bank President Nadia Calviño on Tuesday declined to discuss who should next lead the European Central Bank and played down the suggestion that she herself could be a candidate.

Asked during an on-stage interview by Reuters whom she would choose as the next ECB president if she could not pick herself, Calviño said, “This is the one question I cannot reply to.”

“I’m sure there will be very strong candidates from a number of member states,” she said. “Very important position. And I’m sure the best candidate will be picked.”

When the moderator suggested Calviño herself as a possible candidate, she replied, “No, no, no, no … thank you very much.”

Calviño said she was “absolutely proud, committed, happy” to lead the EIB.

“I think this is a very important institution, maybe more important than ever, for Europe and for the world,” she said.

The ECB presidency is next due to change hands no later than the end of October 2027, when President Christine Lagarde’s eight-year term expires.