While the FDP’s party members are seen as the likeliest contenders for the finance ministry role, it’s not impossible that the CDU could keep the position for one of its own, according to Nickel.
“An outlier (candidacy) is that you strike some sort of deal and the job is left with the CDU, and that’s something I still wouldn’t rule out,” Nickel said.
An CDU-originated candidate could come in the form of Ursula von der Leyen, the only female contender currently. Von der Leyen is no stranger to ministerial positions as the incumbent minister of defense (the first woman in German history to hold that office). She has also held other ministerial posts in recent years.
Another name that has been mentioned is the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) President Werner Hoyer. However, he told reporters at the end of September that he was “extremely happy” at the EIB and was “looking forward to another six years at the bank,” Reuters reported.
“Not least given his experience at the EIB, a Ministry of Finance under Werner Hoyer in particular might be expected to take forward in a constructive way some of the elements of euro area reform proposed by (French President Emmanuel) Macron, including selected budgetary initiatives,” Chris Scicluna, executive director and head of economic research at Daiwa Capital Markets, told CNBC on Monday.
