UK has called for open selection process on IMF

Oops. When I posted yesterday, I hadn’t seen an FT article (UK Calls to Open up IMF Chief Selection) reporting that the UK was attempting to "apply the brakes" and not be pushed into a "quick decision" on a single EU candidate to head the IMF. In fact yesterday I asked Douglas Alexander, the new Minister of State of the UK (who by the way gave a terrific speech on multilateralism at the Council on Foreign Relations) about the position of the UK on selection of leadership at the World Bank and the IMF. While he begged off saying anything specific (he reminded the audience he is responsible for UK policy at the World Bank but not the IMF), he did reiterate the UK’s support for a more open, merit-based process. Independent of the merits of French nominee Dominique Strauss-Kahn, it’s great that the UK is providing leadership in opening up the leadership selection process to make the IMF more legitimate and more effective.