It's got to be Gordon - TIME. "There's one job - a vitally important one - for which the British Chancellor is the person best qualified in the world" comments TIME Europe today. It praises Brown's management of the British economy and suggests he could serve as president of the World Bank for ten years - remaining "a figure on the world stage when Blair had long retired to the board of the Carlyle Group and a spread in Gascony".

Even though "he bears grudges and does not make people feel comfortable" TIME feels "he has the qualities that would make him a superb president, one who could lead the Bank to a new level of global credibility". It comments that "Brown does not just have the intellectual smarts to lead the Bank — though he has them in spades. During his time as Chancellor, he has also shown a rare and genuine compassion for the poor, and has relentlessly bullied other Finance Ministries to forgive debt to developing countries and open their wallets to the destitute of the world".

TIME joins the list of publications condeming "the cynical carve-up of positions at the head of key international institutions" which reserves this job for an American. It says that "there is no American candidate — no, not even Colin Powell, of whom Bank staffers dream — who is as perfect a fit for the Bank as Brown".

The Sunday Herald also considers the possibility that Brown might call it a day in British politics and look at the Bank job as a good escape option. It reviews Brown's options and finds it a serious possibility that he might not be offered a cabinet post and a full-scale media briefing war with Blair might break out. "In this scenario it would be tempting for Brown to look favourably to the post that will be vacated in May by the current president of the World Bank, James Wolfensohn. That option may already be under serious consideration as Brown tours Africa and realises the power and influence he could direct – especially over world poverty and foreign debt aid – at the World Bank".

There has been no comment from Gordon Brown during his Africa trip on this possibility.

Alex Wilks ~ January 16, 2005

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

Next & Previous

« Advice for the new president. | HOME | Time to fight corruption. »

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