According to the _Financial Times _(FT), Minister of Finance Alexander Stubb could be a compromise candidate for the Eurogroup presidency.
The two current favourites for the post are Spanish Minister of Finance Luis de Guidos and current Eurogroup president Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem.
According to the FT, Stubb could be considered for the post if the Eurogroup members can’t agree on either de Guidos or Dijsselbloem as president. In Stubb's favour is the close relationship he fostered with German Chancellor Angela Merkel when he recently served as Finland's prime minister. He held the office for 11 months, resigning in late May.
Stubb’s special advisor Lauri Tierala contests the Eurogroup presidential candidacy claim on Twitter.
“There’s a lot of speculation and that’s fine. To my knowledge, my boss is not being considered for anything right now,” Tierala tweeted.
Stubb himself later downplayed the report, telling reporters in Helsinki that there was no point in speculating about it. He noted that rumours always run rife in this sort of situation.
Another potential comprise candidate is Italian finance minister Pier Carlo Padoan, whose candidacy is weakened by the fact that his fellow countryman Mario Draghi is president of the European Central Bank.
Both de Guidos and Dijsselbloem are arriving in Helsinki on Wednesday for an official visit to discuss the Greek bailout situation and Finnish economic policy with Stubb.