European Parliament rejects candidate for ECB top postOctober 25, 2012 - 15:47 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - 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 Associated Press reported. 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. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. Ruling MPs, Foreign Minister talk Armenia-Azerbaijan processes MOs from the ruling Civil Contract party met with the Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan in the Armenian parliament. Russia: Armenia’s frozen membership weakens CSTO position in Caucasus A Russian envoy said any step that could alienate the CSTO member states from each other is “deeply wrong”. |