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.”

Another quiet knife has been stuck into the gentleman’s agreement which has until now given the U.S. government the right to appoint the World Bank president. The Brazilian government representative at the Bank – Otaviano Canuto – has asked that the process of selecting the new Bank chief be opened up. In a note to colleagues on the board, he said the board should be allowed to chose between more than one candidate, based on merit. The board meets today to consider the process for selecting the new president. Continue reading →

Dr. Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, the CEO of the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation is urging Ghana, which holds the Chair of the African Union “to play a leadership role in quickly mobilizing an African position on the selection of a new World Bank president” Continue reading →

Joseph Stiglitz, former World Bank chief economist urged the Financial Services Committee in the US Congress : “The choice of a successor to outgoing bank president Paul Wolfowitz should be open and transparent with the most qualified people available regardless of race, gender or nationality,” Continue reading →