This is the name we will have to deal with in the next years: Jeroen Dijsselbloem, 46, Social Democrat, politician of Labour Party and Finance Minister in the Netherlands since November 5, 2012.
Jeroen Dijsselbloem to be pronounced as [jɛˈrun ˈdɛisəlblum]
Dijsselbloem elected new Eurogroup chief
Eurozone finance ministers have elected Dutchman Jeroen Dijsselbloem as the Eurogroup’s new chairman. He’s succeeded Jean-Claude Juncker of Luxembourg heading the group for eight years and throughout the debt crisis.
In a carefully staged handover of leadership powers, eurozone finance ministers on Monday night elected Jeroen Dijsselbloem of the Netherlands the new chair of the Eurogroup. Being the only candidate, the 46-year-old Social Democrat finance minister formally announced his candidacy last Thursday in an address to his national parliament.
Clearing a last hurdle, Dijsselbloem managed to convince France with his plans for the job – Paris demanding an open debate about how to get the 17-member single-currency area out of a spiral of austerity and recession.
The Dutchman follows Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg’s prime minister and a political heavyweight who’d been at the helm of the Eurogroup for eight years, most of which he’d spent trying to fight the eurozone’s debt crisis.
Change of direction?
His successor finds himself in a situation where tensions have eased considerably on markets compared with half a year ago when there was much talk about a looming Greek exit from the euro and a number of member countries being forced into bailouts.
“There seems to be a new basis of trust,” Dijsselbloem told reporters on Monday, indicating that governments now had more time to focus on incentives to help foster growth and thus boost employment with Europe currently logging a jobless rate of a little under 12 percent.
At their meeting in Brussels, the eurozone finance ministers also dealt with Cyprus’ bid to secure an international bailout in June. (Deutsche Welle)
I cannot express any opinion on Dijsselbloem but I read, he is determined to lead Europe out of the crisis. Hopefully, Greece is included in his Crexit (Crisis Exit) calender.
Maybe our Dutch readers could provide us with their opinions about him? 🙂
PS If you manage to pronounce his name your country wins a “haircut” coupon, worth 10 euro…
However, as I am not as mean as I seem to be as here are some tips how to pronounce the new EZ chief’s name (and risk to miss your haircut-coupon opportunity:
Toby Sterling, AP reporter in Amsterdam explains how Dijsselbloem’s name is properly pronounced:
One more time, English speakers. To pronounce “Dijsselbloem” say the English words “Die” – “Sell” – “Bloom.” Accent falls on “Die.” (source: Twitter: @lbsterling, Jan 18th 2013 15.13 CET)
By popular request: Dijsselbloem is pronounced like the English words “Dye-sell-bloom” or, second best, “Dazzle bloom.” (source: Twitter: @lbsterling, Jan 18th 2013 15.43 CET)
(Jeroen = ‘Ye’ – ‘roon’ <= this author’s take) With special KTG-thanks to Eurozoneremarks (EZR)
Who is Jeroen Dijsselbloem? At least a Dutchman who speaks perfectly English 😀
If you want to know more about his background apart from that he loves salsa dancing and partying, read this article (google translate will give a pretty decent translation) http://nos.nl/artikel/464649-wie-is-jeroen-dijsselbloem.html
BTW: NOS is the major and to my opinion the best news station in Holland.
good language skils are essential to EZ of 17 lol
thnak for the link
LOOOOL!!!! That’s funny! 😛
what is funny?
When I arrived here I was really shocked by the way this NOS is bringing news like we are all 4 year olds and how it is very low on facts and truths.
Dijsselbloem will continue the same direction as Juncker. Only with a lot less booze, I heard. 😉
are you sure? aabout the booze…
No, not sure, as Dijsselbloem is said to love parties?
let’s euro-party!
Only candidate?….I think I might just need another glass of wine…………………………………………..
I’ll go get one too
Not the only candidate, I read. At first Schäuble and his French counterpart were both in the running. As always, nobody likes the candidates from those two biggies. So then just the French guy stayed on for a while. Then the Finnish finance minister was a favourite, as he is more experienced than Dijsselbloem. He didn’t want the job. So, by default, Dijsselbloem got the honours.
So, put down that glass of wine! Or better, offer me one too. 😀
but officially during voting he was the only candidate. I read somewhere that Spain did not vote for him.
Unfortunately we don’t know yet how to email glasses of wine wihtout breaking them.
I like sprite to drink, can I join the party too
you’re welcome. somebody must bring the chips & nuts.
Virtual nuts and chips, with salsa, on the way…
Dijsselbloem is the majority agreed consensus candidate. As always with the EU, there was lots and lots of pulling and pushing in the back ground before the name Dijsselbloem was put foreward. In fact, Juncker flatly refused to stand down at some stage, unless the EU agreed to elect his buddy Yves Mersch (Luxembourg Central banker). Spain refused to sanction this guy. Germany agreed. The EU parliament refused to back him, not because of ability or lack thereof, but because he has the wrong gender. Ovaries über ability…
More behind the scenes manipulation. Sharon Bowles (UK) refused to support him because he did not have “democratically established mandate???? Who in the top brass in the EU has Ms Bowles??? More manipulation, probably some
fakelaki“convincing” arguments, and magically, in true EU fashion, the top finance position in the EU goes to a Dutchman who has never held any politicial postion worth speaking of before, has absolute no experience in finance but is a graduate of UCC (Ireland) and holds a degree in agricultural economics.Anti-Social-Democrats
Maybe yourti can bring yogurt ;). I bring the sprite and hambergur from Goody