Who is to be the new World Bank head?

Now that we know the departure date of current World Bank head, Paul Wolfowitz, the search has begun for a new head.

If things go ahead as they usually do with international organizations, the new head will be another US national, as that is the agreement with the Bretton Woods organizations: the head of the World Bank is from the US and the head of the IMF is from Europe, the old powers.

No crumbs for anyone else, and little accounting for ability and fit.

A suggestion to get the ball rolling with the first non-US President could be retiring British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who is also leaving in June (is that a coincidence?).

Reasons why he could make it include:

• He is a friend of US President George Bush.
  
• He is a friend of EU leaders.
  
• He is well known internationally.
  
• Gordon Brown as head of the International Monetary and Financial Committee of the IMF, has strong influence with other finance ministers.
  

Mr. Blair has shown himself interested in international issues and poverty and this would be a fitting position for him next.

As the first non-US World Bank President, we would have made the first step towards the practice of choosing Presidents for their ability and their effectiveness, rather than their nationality and connections.

Onésimo Alvarez-Moro