Columnist Charles Onyango-Obbo, writing in The EastAfrican, concludes that, at least for Africa, his scandal may have been his biggest reform success. Continue reading →

Newsweek‘s humor columnist Andy Borowitz envisions another unilateral move by President Bush: naming Wolfowitz the head of al-Qaeda. Continue reading →

From colleagues in Sweden, the response from the ministry of finance regarding their position on the leadership selection process: “The swedish (and nordic/baltic) position is very clear, the presidents of the World Bank and the IMF should be appointed in a transparent process, based on qualifications and suitability. This question is central to secure the legitimacy of the institution and that the governance agrees with swedish policy regarding recruitment to international institutions. This will be our position when the process of appointment now starts.”

The Dutch and the Nordics are doing the right thing. Angela, Gordon – what’s your excuse?

Colleagues in France have reminded us of this somewhat enigmatic response to a question whether France would push for opening up the process of leadership selection. It came from a French government spokesperson at a press conference before the Wolfowitz resignation. Continue reading →

Japanese finance minister Koji Omi told US treasury secretary Henry Paulson that “it will be most appropriate that a successor should be selected from the US, which holds world leadership.”