PARIS – France’s frank, hard-working and chic finance minister, Christine Lagarde, emerged Friday as Europe’s likely choice to lead the International Monetary Fund.
The IMF insists the departure of former chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn has not hurt its day-to-day operations, but it is clearly under pressure to find a successor fast to lead an organization that provides billions in loans to stabilize the world economy. A new chief would also draw attention away from the seamy scandal surrounding Strauss-Kahn, who quit this week to face charges in New York that he tried to rape a hotel maid.
The IMF may face a choice between naming its first woman leader or its first leader from the developing world. Emerging economies see Europe’s traditional stranglehold on the position as increasingly out of touch with the world economy, but have not yet united around a candidate.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday that she “very much appreciates the French finance minister.” She insisted she wasn’t announcing Lagarde’s candidacy, just sharing her views.
Merkel has also said the next IMF chief should be a European, since the fund is deeply involved in tackling the eurozone’s sprawling debt crisis. Germany’s view is critical, since as the continent’s economic powerhouse it
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