Spain loses out as European Central Bank names Yves Mersch to its board

Yves Mersch of Luxembourg was named to the European Central Bank's board after the longest battle over an appointment in the euro's 13-year history, bolstering the ECB's anti-inflation wing.

Mersch, 63, overcame Spain's attempt to retain the seat and a plea by European parliamentarians to give the post to a woman.

He will join the ECB's Frankfurt-based executive board on December 15, the European Union said yesterday.

The selection tilts the board further towards monetary rigour after financially ailing Spain lost the post. As Luxembourg's representative on the ECB's wider interest-rate-setting Governing Council, Mersch is the euro area's longest-serving central bank chief and has a reputation as an inflation hawk.

"I am looking forward to bringing in my experience to the work of a highly professional team, being fully aware of the responsibility and challenges going along with the position, especially during a severe financial crisis," he said.

While following the German approach to interest rates, Mersch broke with the Bundesbank by supporting ECB president Mario Draghi's planned bond-purchase programme to combat the debt crisis.