France To Lead Search For European Candidate To Head IMF
Sumaira FH Published July 18, 2019 | 11:59 PM
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Thursday he will lead talks on finding a single European candidate to succeed Christine Lagarde as head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
The post of IMF managing director, which by convention goes to a European, became vacant after Lagarde was tapped by EU leaders to head the European Central Bank.
Finance ministers of the four European members of the G7, Germany, France, Britain and Italy, met informally on the sidelines of the meeting of the most developed nations in Chantilly outside Paris to discuss the issue.
Sources said after the meeting that the names of several candidates had been floated but no kind of selection had been made.
"We agreed that it was important one European name was put forward. A number of names were informally discussed but no short list was established," a European official, who asked not to be named, said.
At the same time, the British, Italian and German ministers agreed that Le Maire, whose country currently leads the G7, should head informal discussions with all European countries to "foster a consensus" around a single name, the official added.
Le Maire, who has made clear he does not want the job himself, confirmed after the meeting he will take on the the search.
"What we will try and do in the next days is to coordinate positions so that we have a consensus on a candidate by the end of July," he said.
Le Maire said it would "inelegant" to indulge in "name-dropping".
Several high-profile names have already been floated as possible successors to Lagarde who has steered the IMF since 2011.
They include the Canadian-born Bank of England governor Mark Carney, who holds Canadian, British and Irish nationality, and former British finance minister George Osborne, who is now editor of the London Evening Standard newspaper.
Also in the frame are the former finance minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem of the Netherlands as well as Spanish Economy Minister Nadia Calvino.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Robinson, bowlers help New Zealand go 2-1 up against Pakistan
Shahzeb Chachar to hold khuli kachehri on April 26
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
Court adjourns Judicial Complex attack case till May 17
Nasreen Noori’s book ‘Popatan Jahra Khwab’ launched
Wafaqi Mohtasib inspection team visits Excise and taxation office
AJLAC announces 5th Conference titled ‘People’s Mandate: Safeguarding Civil ..
Pak-US officials engage to enhance trade, investment ties
IBCC to promote educational excellence, expand regional presence
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leav ..
Putin says plans to visit China in May
More Stories From World
-
Slot 'confident' of Liverpool job as 'negotiations' take place
2 hours ago -
Google parent Alphabet's Q1 profits beat estimates: company
3 hours ago -
WADA asks 'independent prosecutor' to examine Chinese swimmers case
3 hours ago -
New York court overturns Harvey Weinstein sex crime conviction
3 hours ago -
Bagnaia and Spanish rivals chase victory at Jerez
4 hours ago -
Russian, Ukrainian strikes kill at least 10 in frontline regions
5 hours ago
-
Heatwave amid Israel's aggression in Gaza brings new misery, disease risk
5 hours ago -
Tourism must change, mayor says as Venice launches entry fee
5 hours ago -
Pakistani 'Blue Helmets' serving UN Peacekeeping Mission in DR Congo set to leave after 20 years of ..
6 hours ago -
Putin says plans to visit China in May
6 hours ago -
US reinstates open internet rules rescinded under Trump
6 hours ago -
Honda announces US$11 bn EV battery and vehicle plant in Canada
6 hours ago