Potential candidates to lead IMF

WASHINGTON: French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde emerged Friday as Europe's favorite to replace Dominique Strauss-Kahn as managing director of the International Monetary Fund, especially after Turkish economist Kemal Dervis said he would not stand.

Here is a list of the current possibilities for IMF chief. Some would only qualify if an exception can be made to IMF bylaws that say a managing director cannot be more than 65 years old when he takes office.

- Christine Lagarde, 55, France: Respected finance minister is a disciplined leader, and popular in developed and emerging economies including the United States. While French like Strauss-Kahn, she has an advantage as a woman candidate for a job always before occupied by men.

- Montek Singh Ahluwalia, 67, India: Planner, former World Bank star and director of the IMF's Independent Evaluation Office. He may lack the backing of Asian neighbors like China.

- Agustin Carstens, 52, Mexico: Central bank governor and former finance minister who has the confidence of Washington and the G20. But a Mexican already leads the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

- Trevor Manuel, 55, South Africa: Former finance minister who proved his talents at a young age trusted by Nelson Mandela. Needs the broad support of the African continent, where a lot of IMF money goes.

- Leszek Balcerowicz, 64, Poland: Former finance minister and central banker who pioneered Poland's transition from communism to the free market.

- Stanley Fischer, 67, Israel: Rhodesia-born ex-World Bank economist is now the head of Israel's central bank. He served as IMF deputy managing director from 1994-2001.