Lagarde poised to win IMF job

WASHINGTON: France's Christine Lagarde was poised to be named head of the International Monetary Fund Tuesday when the global crisis lender's board meets to replace Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

Despite grumbling from emerging economies over Europe's 65-year lock on the executive director job, there was little doubt that the key IMF power, the United States, would support Lagarde, making it near-impossible for Mexican challenger Agustin Carstens to win the position.

Choosing Lagarde would ease European concerns that the Fund's crucial bailouts of Greece, Portugal and Ireland could be disrupted by the unexpected departure of Strauss-Kahn, who resigned May 18 to fight New York charges of sexual assault on a hotel maid.

The French finance minister picked up an endorsement from China Monday, confirmation that efforts to construct an emerging economy bloc to end Europe's lock on the job had failed.

Speaking in London, China's central bank chief Zhou Xiaochuan said Beijing had already expressed "quite full support" for Lagarde's candidacy, according to Dow Jones Newswires.

Since the race began in late May, 55-year-old Lagarde has been the strong favorite over Carstens, Mexico's central bank chief, despite his own strong resume for the job.

Few expected Washington to break the tacit pact, dating to the founding of the Fund and sister institution the World Bank, that an American would run the Bank while a European headed the Fund.

On Monday US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner remained coy, while he praised what he called "an open, contested process" with "two excellent candidates".

"I'm sure we're on the verge of having somebody emerge that will come in very well-supported," he said.

"And that's very important because this institution faces a lot of challenges, not least in Europe, and it's a time we need strong leadership."

The 187-nation Fund, which plays a crucial but often controversial role aiding countries in financial straits, was left reeling after Strauss-Kahn resigned in the middle of tense negotiations over Greece's massive bailout and tensions over other struggling European economies.

With their crisis festering, Europe's powers aggressively put forward Lagarde.

Though not an economist, she has gained wide respect as France's point-woman during its leadership of the G20 as well as in Europe debt talks.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011