Kosovo parliament elects new central bank governor

PRISTINA: Kosovo's parliament picked Gani Gerguri on Friday to run the central bank until the mandate of former governor Hashim Rexhepi, who was sacked over corruption charges, expires in March 2013.

Gerguri, who has served as deputy and acting central bank governor, won 58 votes, easily beating rival Safet Merovci.

Gerguri can also run for a fresh five-year term at the end of the present mandate.

One of Europe's poorest countries, Kosovo has adopted the euro as its currency, and the central bank monitors eight commercial banks pension funds, insurance and microfinance companies.