May 24 IMF Twitter --IMF has promised a merit-based process to replace former leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn of France, who is under house arrest in New York on charges he attempted to rape a hotel maid.
South Africa’s former finance minister, Trevor Manuel, named as a possible candidate to lead the International Monetary Fund, called for an open process to select a new managing director of the institution.
“Africa will also have to have a voice,” Dumisa Jele, the spokesman for the head of South Africa’s National Planning Commission, said by phone from Pretoria, confirming Manuel’s comments reported by state-owned South African Broadcasting Corp. The post shouldn’t be reserved for a European, Jele cited Manuel as saying.
Europeans have picked IMF heads since its founding at the end of World War II under an agreement that gives the U.S. control over the top World Bank post. The No. 2 person at the IMF has traditionally been chosen by the U.S. Officials in Thailand, Russia and South Africa want the next managing director to come from a developing nation even as they failed to unite behind one candidate.
“It has to be wrong for multi lateral bodies to have recruitment processes where birth right is more important than ability,” Manuel said, according to the SABC on its website. “The old order has to pass.”
Dublin has repeatedly ruled out raising the rate, seen as a cornerstone of Irish economic policy.
"Christine Lagarde has been a friend, some would argue the friendliest voice that we have in the French government at this point in time," Creighton said.
"She has been supportive of Ireland, she has visited Ireland. She has given unprecedented access to the Irish representatives and diplomats in Paris and so she is considered to be someone who is very much on Ireland's side."
Creighton said France's hard-line on Ireland's corporate tax rate would not influence Dublin's backing for Lagarde.
"I don't think it's something that would colour our judgement in terms of Christine Lagarde's suitability for the role of head of the IMF. I think she would be an excellent candidate. She is somebody who is eminently qualified.
"As finance minister she has responsibilities to toe the government's line in Paris.
The IMF, which along with Europe, is lending Ireland 67.5 billion euros to deal with its financial crisis said Europe needed to do more to tackle the region's debt problems and signalled disapproval last week at French demands over Ireland's corporate tax rate.
It is unclear how new leadership at the IMF may change its stance towards cooperation with Europe.
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