Stanley Fischer ‘too old’ for IMF top job

‘I think that the age restriction, which was set in the past at 65, is not relevant today,’ Stanley Fischer said Stanley Fischer’s late bid to become the next leader of the International Monetary Fund has ended ignominiously, when he was barred from the race because of his age . The 67-year old governor of Israel’s central bank had hoped the IMF would overlook the stipulation that a new managing director must be no older than 65. Instead, Fischer found himself dismissed from the field just three days after his last-minute entry spiced up the contest. Fischer, a highly experienced economist, said he was disappointed not to be able to demonstrate his abilities. “I think that the age restriction, which was set in the past at 65, is not relevant today,” Fischer said. “I was hoping that the IMF board of directors would change its regulations, not only for the sake of my candidacy, but also for the sake of future candidates for the position of managing director”. Fischer added that he would “proudly and happily continue” as governor of the Bank of Israel. The deadline for nominations to succeed Dominique Strauss-Kahn as IMF head closed last Friday. Fischer’s forced withdrawal leaves just two candidates, French finance minister Christine Lagarde, and Bank of Mexico governor Agustin Carstens. The two shortlisted candidates will meet with IMF’s executive board later this month. The board hopes to make its choice by 30 June. Lagarde is widely seen as the frontrunner – despite Fischer appearing to question her credentials as a non-economist . Carstens admitted on Monday night that he is unlikely to become the first non-European to run the IMF. “I’m not fooling myself. It’s like starting a soccer game with a 5-0 score,” Carstens told an audience at the Peterson Institute for International Economics. Carstens also questioned, though, whether it would be right for a European to lead the IMF at a time when the eurozone debt crisis is threatening the stability of the global economy . “We could have a situation where borrowers dominate the institution,” he suggested. IMF Economics Global economy Dominique Strauss-Kahn Graeme Wearden guardian.co.uk

Posted by on June 14, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.