Lawrence MacDonald at the Center for Global Development has some insightful questions for Bob Zoellick. Among them (mine are the abridged versions): Will you oppose U.S. subsidies and the enforcemet of Intellectual Property Rights for lifesaving medicines? Will you go continue moving the Bank’s health sector towards Bush’s inane abstinence only policies? more…
After being one of the Vulcans running GWB bid for the 2000 White House race, Zoellick had been serving as policy director for the presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) , reports Chris Cillizza in his Politics Blog The Fix. It is mentioned that he would have been the candidate for the position of Secretary of State, should McCain win the POTUS position . more…
Although the U.S. Congress has no formal role to play in the World Bank presidential nomination game, they are poised to appropriate annual funding for the World Bank’s IDA and consider an authorization for the next IDA replenishment. Most reported reactions on Zoellick’s nomination have been generally positive from both sides of the aisle. But key World Bank overseer and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank is not impressed: “The second, high-ranking George Bush administration foreign policy, national security official in a row, I think is a mistake.” more…
One person who has doubts on the suitability of Zoellick is Nobel Prize winner and former Chief Economist of the WBG, Joseph Stiglitz. As told to La Republica and reported in The Times, Stiglitz asked the following: “Robert Zoellick defended American agricultural protectionism until the bitter end when he was responsible for commercial talks. How will he, as the future president of the World Bank, ask for the dismantling of aid to agriculture that favours developed countries at the expense of those that are poor?” more…
Sarah Anderson has a piece at Foreign Policy In Focus on Zoellick’s track record of pushing a trade as counter terrorism agenda. The best line: “But is a tone-deaf, name-calling steely opportunist a good choice to lead the World Bank?”
David Woodward of the UK thinktank new economics foundation, provides a thorough assessment of Zoellick’s time as US trade representative concluding that it is “a track record of arm-twisting, blackmail, pay-offs and abuse of power in the WTO to promote US interests at the expense of the developing world”. more…
Bloomberg reports Australian treasurer Peter Costello: “Zoellick is an excellent candidate for the World Bank presidency and will be supported by Australia.” Australia joined Brazil and South Africa last week in calling for “transparent” selection process based on merit and open to citizens of all nations. “Following the completion of current processes, it is Australia’s view that the World Bank should examine the selection process for the president,” Costello said. more…
A Norwegian government press release yesterday tries to have something for everyone. more…
Commenting on the appointment of Robert Zoellick to be president of the World Bank, Liberal Democrat shadow international development secretary, Lynne Featherstone MP said: “No offence to Mr Zoellick, but this is another American and another Bush appointee. The World Bank has fallen into disrepute through political appointments. It is not credible for the World Bank to preach good governance to developing nations when its own governance is based on such an outdated and patriarchal world view. The president of the World Bank should be chosen according to a transparent process on the basis of merit and qualification. It is a shame that the British government has done nothing to push for an open and meritocratic selection process for the World Bank presidency.”
The Bank’s Board has given their criteria for the next World Bank President.
The Board believes it is essential for the next World Bank President to have:
Nominations are open until June 15. While the Board acknowledges that the Executive Director for the United States will be making a nomination, they leave themselve open to other suggestions.
There are many good things to say about Bob Zoellick, and some things he will have to work on. more…
