who will be next World Bank President What will they do
 
 

     
 

Former Bank board member blogs his views. Fulsome apologies to Mr Per Kurowski. He is a former Executive Director to the World Bank (for the governments of several Latin American countries). He has been blogging on this issue, but till now I missed it. He has it in for both the Bank board Ethics Committee, and Wolfowitz.

Here is his latest post in full.

The World Bank deserves more than a political row

The Ethics Committee proposed a solution to Mr. Wolfowitz' "conflict of interest" that could have the poverty fighting World Bank paying out US$1.950.000 over the ten years of what could be his presidency (US$ 130.000 plus 50% benefits per year), while receiving absolutely no services at all. No matter how delicately you phrase it as a secondment, this sure must be a crazy and an unethical proposal. How come they did not just help her (or Wolfowitz) find another job for which the Bank did not have to pay? Should that have been so difficult?

Mr. Wolfowitz, who as President should know that something is not right just because an Ethics Committee proposes it; then went on influencing so as to raise the potential cost of this proposal for the Bank to US$2.700.000. For this Wolfowitz should resign; and most seem quite clear about that.

It is hard though for me to understand why there has been so little discussion about the Ethics Committee's initial proposal. Although I was an Executive Director at the World Bank, 2002-2004, I came there from the private sector, and so I might not possess sufficient intimate knowledge of all the nuances of diplomatic affairs… (which could perhaps just be lucky me).

I sincerely believe that the overwhelmingly good staff, management, board members and presidents, present or past of the World Bank, as well as a world that needs a respected multilateral institution where global challenges can be discussed, they all deserve that this affair is handled correctly, on the basis of what is right or wrong, and not just as a banal political row, of a for or against Wolfowitz.


For more on the World Bank saga from Mr Kurowski, see his View from the Radical Middle blog.

Alex Wilks ~ May 14, 2007


 
 
Presidents 1946 - Present Day
 
spacer    

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

Next & Previous

« Mallaby makes it plain: anti-corruption yes, Wolfowitz no. | HOME | More Corruption? Wolfowitz and Nazarbayev? »

Categories

Bolton

Chirac

Comment

Frist

Malloch Brown

Mr W's cronies

Mr W's past

Mr W's pledges

Rumsfeld

Santorum

Setrakian

The Process

Tony Blair

World Bank president

"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



ifiwatchnet     riverpath
 
spacer