Mário Centeno withdrew from the contest for Vice‑President of the European Central Bank (Banco Central Europeu or BCE), and Croatia's central‑bank governor Boris Vujčić was reported to have won the post at the Eurogroup vote. Portuguese officials had described Centeno's chances as 'difficult' given regional balances and the qualified‑majority voting dynamics. Markets and financial observers will watch how the new ECB leadership affects policy balance in the euro area; those tracking Portugal's influence in EU finance should note Centeno's withdrawal and Vujčić's selection.