Four in the frame for bank job

TALLINN -- Four candidates have been revealed to fight it out for one of Estonia's top jobs 's Chairman of the Supervisory Council of Eesti Pank 's in effect the head of the central bank.

The four are all men. In addition to the current incumbent, Mart Sorg, the others are academics Enn Listra and Andres Arrak plus Jaan Mannik, former Eesti Telecom chief executive.

Sorg will be quietly confident about his chances of retaining his post, but the appointment is by no means a done deal. Some commentators are tipping Arrak as a serious contender thanks to his sometimes outspoken views and high public profile. Both Sorh and Arrak have won official backing from the Reform Party, though none of the four candidates has any official party affiliation.

Reform Party spokeswoman Keit Pentus said: "In a situation where panic-mongering as regards the prospects of the economy seems to be a popular activity, the opinion of Andres Arrak is sympathetic, according to which the central bank should perform the role of a balanced provider of information more actively."

The final decision will be made by President Toomas Hendrik Ilves.