Horse-Trading Continues The Financial Times has a front-page (at least in the U.S.) article today confirming the reports that the EU countries want a European put in a top position at the Bank in exchange for supporting Wolfowitz. As the FT notes, this could mean the awkward downgrading of the current #2, Shengman Zhang, of China. The UK Treasury is quoted as saying that it is "sceptical" of any deal made by the US and EU that leaves out developing countries. But French and German officials seem insistent.

The Germans are said to see such a position as making up for the recent departure of Peter Woicke as head of the IFC, the Bank's private-sector division. There has been little speculation about a permanent replacement for Woicke (no www.worldbankvicepresidentfortheifc.org site -- yet) -- so would that mean another German in that slot would satisfy the EU? Probably not.

Alex Wilks shines, again, both as the only person willing to be quoted by name, and for his analysis of the meaning of adding a new spot for a European: “This would be a further perversion of the appointment process. It would extend the job carve-up to the top four posts at the World Bank and IMF for Americans and Europeans.”

Soren Ambrose ~ March 28, 2005

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