国际英语资讯:IMF to start selecting new leader as Lagarde formally submits resignation_时事

国际英语资讯:IMF to start selecting new leader as Lagarde formally submits resignation

The position of IMF chief has always been held by Europeans while the head of the World Bank has traditionally been American, an informal arrangement that has stayed in place for over seven decades.

Earlier this year, David Malpass, former undersecretary for international affairs at the U.S. Treasury Department, was chosen by U.S. President Donald Trump as a candidate to lead the World Bank Group, and he took office in April after a campaign without competition.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that Lagarde has stepped down at "an opportune moment," because the finance ministers of the Group of Seven (G7) economies are meeting in France on Wednesday and Thursday for a summit, which could lead to an agreement on a candidate to succeed her as the head of the IMF.

The G7 comprises Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, and its meetings also include representatives from the European Commission. The managing director is selected by the IMF's 24-member executive board, which is dominated by advanced economies.

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, former Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem are among the potential candidates for the position. Kristalina Georgieva, the Bulgarian chief executive of the World Bank, as well as Margrethe Vestager, the Danish EU competition commissioner, are also under consideration, the Financial Times reported earlier.

Emerging markets, however, might also propose candidates, with their growing share in the world economy. Mexican Agustin Carstens, chief of the Bank for International Settlements, former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan, Monetary Authority of Singapore Chairman Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Credit Suisse Group AG Chief Executive Officer Tidjane Thiam, among others, could be nominated, Bloomberg reported earlier.