Don't neglect Gordon Brown. ODI's Adrian Hewitt gets in touch to warn us not to swallow the conventional wisdom that only an American can get the job.

His tip? British Chancellor, Gordon Brown, who is perhaps better liked in Washington than he is by his neighbour in Downing Street.

"Wolfensohn was no more American than Rupert Murdoch when he got the job a decade ago," Hewitt writes (more).

"Rato only got the IMF Managing Director's job with Latin American as well as European support, so mutatis mutandis, merely observe where Gordon Brown is now - in Africa; not for his health, nor because there are many Labour voters in Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique or even South Africa. But these countries and the whole of the ACP (79 members incl South Africa) have direct or indirect representation on the Boards of the Bank (only a couple are suspended at the moment).

"Brown is qualified and he - not his rival Tony Blair - is currently in the chair of a key IMF Committee - another reason why he can bide his time before declaring his hand (which he couldn't do anyway until the current domestic UK political controversy has reached a conclusion)."

An end to Brown's long-held ambition to shoulder aside Tony Blair as British PM? It would be a political cataclysm in the UK. What we need now is for someone to suggest that Blair himself is after the job...

David Steven ~ January 12, 2005

"Keep track of the rumored candidates, power plays and buzz."
The Washington Post

Next & Previous

« Reuters features this site. | HOME | Europeans against Taylor. »

Categories

"Offering the rumors and gossip usually reserved for Washington's bars and back rooms."
Reuters

WBpresident.org in the news

Wolfowitz-Riza-Cleveland: New Evil-doing?
Wolfowitz's right hand man jumps ship.
Caught in the World Bank storm.
We're in the papers! worldbankpresident.org media mentions.
Hot blogging on the World Bank president.
Media contacts.
Card wants Snow.
New candidate, French views.
An £8200 job ad.
Bank chief's parting shots.

"Accomplished and intelligent… sifts through the speculation and brings you the latest news."
The Guardian

Recent Rumours

Zoellick bearhug photo.
Like old times: Zoellick and Lamy
Another middle aged white American for the World Bank !
Globe and Mail: Euros Already Agreed not to Raise Questions
Official: Zoellick according to AP.
It's (un)Official: Zoellick
Zoellick will get the nod from Germany.
An opportunity at the World Bank
UPI: Wolfowitz Replacement This Week
UK involvement in the Foundation for the Future.

Links

The World Bank
Bretton Woods Project
Eurodad
IFIwatchnet

Search this site

Archive

May 2007
April 2007
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005