Euro-area finance ministers on Monday re-elected Ireland’s Paschal Donohoe as president of the Eurogroup after his two challengers, Spain’s Carlos Cuerpo and Lithuania’s Rimantas Sadzius, bowed out hours before the vote. Their withdrawals left Donohoe unopposed, allowing ministers to confirm him by consensus for a third consecutive 2.5-year term beginning 13 July. Cuerpo pulled his bid when it became clear he lacked the 11 votes needed from the 20-member bloc; Spanish media reported he had secured only one firm endorsement. Minutes later, Sadzius also stepped aside, saying a single candidate would better safeguard unity within the euro area. Donohoe, 50, has chaired the informal gathering of euro-zone finance chiefs since 2020. In a statement after his re-election, he said he would prioritise tighter fiscal coordination, completion of the capital-markets and banking unions, and work on a potential digital euro. The outcome marks a second setback for Spain in the Eurogroup race following Nadia Calviño’s defeat in 2020, although Madrid said it would continue to contribute “constructively” to the forum’s agenda.