World Bank President James Wolfensohn is ready to serve another five-year term at the helm of the bank, but he has expressed uncertainty over whether the US government – the banks largest shareholder – would want him to stay on, reports the World Bank press review Monday.
– I think the most important thing for this institution is to embed what we have been doing for the last 10 years, Wolfensohn said Friday in a briefing about the banks upcoming annual meeting. – And if it takes extra time for me to do it – and given the opportunity – I might do it. But I want to have the support of the shareholders.
Wolfensohn, who became the banks chief executive in June 1995, already has stayed on the job longer than all but two presidents in the banks history. He modernized the banks giant bureaucracy and made the reduction of poverty its top goal, but he also became a controversial figure, analysts say. His current term expires in 2005.
The US government traditionally has a decisive role in choosing the World Bank president. But Wolfensohn said Friday that President George W. Bush has not indicated whether he wants him to stay beyond next year. Neither has John Kerry, the Democratic nominee for US president.
Wolfensohn said he will make plans for his future after the Nov. 2 presidential election. Wolfensohn said his relations with the Bush administration have been cordial recently. “I can say categorically that I get on very well with this administration,” he said. – I see no sign of them trying to run me out, Wolfensohn said.
But “pre-election you can not tell – you have to see what happens after the election.” Still, he denied speculation that US Secretary of State Colin Powell might replace him.
“He is a very good friend of mine, and we joke about it – but I do not think he has the remotest interest in the job, Wolfensohn said.
Among other potential candidates in the field are Bill Clinton, the former US President, Robert Zoellick, President Bushs trade czar, and Stan Fischer, former NO. 2 at the International Monetary Fund.
Kilde: www.worldbank,org
