The US Refused Europe's Proposed IMF Chief in 2000

Choice of IMF chief divides U.S., Europe

USA Today
03/01/00- Updated 03:28 PM ET
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washdc/nc1.htm#duel

WASHINGTON - The split between the United States and Europe over the top job at the International Monetary Fund widened Tuesday as Europe pushed ahead with its candidate one day after Clinton administration officials bluntly let it be known that they considered him unacceptable. Germany's IMF representative in Washington formally submitted Caio Koch-Weser's name to the 24-member executive board Tuesday night, saying ''he is the right choice'' for the job based on his years of ''global professional experience.'' But the Clinton administration did not back down either. Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the United States felt it was critical for the IMF's next leader to be ''somebody who can do what needs to be done'' to institute reforms.