Appointment of BoI Governor again delayed

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Finance Yair Lapid still disagree on an appointment but will decide by Sunday.

The saga over the appointment of a new Governor of the Bank of Israel continues after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Finance Yair Lapid met last night for discussions. After lengthy consultations the two men failed to agree on who will succeed Prof. Stanley Fischer who stepped down at the end of June. They issued an official statement saying that the decision had been delayed.

The statement said, "Netanyahu and Lapid consulted this evening in the prime minister's office in the Knesset for two hours on a range of issues. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Finance Yair Lapid also agreed that the identity of the new Governor of the Bank of Israel would be decided by Sunday."

The Turkel Committee on Public Appointments has approved three candidates for the job - Prof. Mario Blejer, Victor Medina, and Prof. Zvi Eckstein.

Netanyahu was reportedly inclined towards Medina while Lapid prefers Eckstein. Both are former Deputy Governors of the Bank of Israel. As a result of the dispute Blejer, a former Governor of the Argentine Central Bank, could emerge as a compromise candidate.

Dr. Karnit Flug, the former Deputy Govenor, has been serving as Acting Governor since July 1.

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on October 17, 2013

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2013

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