Asia-Pacific

India in talks with other nations for new IMF chief

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-05-24 17:27

NEW DELHI - India said Tuesday that it is in touch with other nations over the selection of new head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), following the resignation of its former chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn over a sex scandal.

"Our executive directors (in IMF) are meeting and exchanging views. And I am regularly being informed what is happening. I am also in touch with finance ministers (of other IMF member nations)," Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the media.

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Strauss-Kahn quit last week after being charged with attempted rape of a 32-year-old African American maid at a New York Sofitel hotel. He was arrested but released on bail.

Though Britain endorsed the candidature of French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde during the weekend, Indian Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia and former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also figure in the list of contenders for the top IMF job.

When asked about the possibility of new chief from a developing country, Mukherjee said: "There are set procedures. We did not face this type of problem earlier."

"Normally, we decide through the process of consensus building and we have the consensus. But at the same time, we shall have to keep in mind it is a financial institution. Shareholding and voting power are relevant factors."