Candidates to replace Wolfowitz spark debate
Afp, Washington
The White House has begun searching for a successor to outgoing World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz amid questions about the tradition that allows Washington to name an American as the development lender's leader. Europeans -- who were particularly critical of Wolfowitz and backed the drive to oust him from the bank -- nevertheless continue to support that Washington maintain its role in naming the World Bank president. But several non-governmental organizations, along with Brazil, have called for the replacement search to be opened to non-American candidates and to focus on the person's competence rather than nationality. On Saturday Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega called for the selection process to take place "in an open and transparent environment without restriction on the candidates by nationality."
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