French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde will be in India tomorrow to garner support for her candidature for the IMF head, despite BRICS nations demanding someone from a developing country to fill the post.
The post fell vacant after Dominique Strauss-Kahn stepped down as IMF managing director following charges of sexual assault.
BRICS comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. “In order to exchange views and share her vision for this (IMF) post, she will hold meetings in Delhi with high dignitaries of the Government of India,” a statement from French embassy said.
Lagarde has already officially declared her intention to stand for the post. The French minister will meet her Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee among others.
Her visit assumes importance since there is already a divide within IMF over mandatory selection of a European on the IMF top job. Last month, a joint statement from BRICS had demanded scrapping of an unwritten convention in this regard. On the other hand, European nations like Britain and Germany have voiced support in her favour.
Lagarde is around 56 years and quite eligible for the post, unlike Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who is 67 years old. The maximum age of an IMF managing director cannot exceed 65 years when appointed.
Lagarde will also visit other members of the BRICS bloc to seek their support for her candidature.
In November 2010, she was reappointed Minister for Economy, Finance and Industry in the French government.
Lagarde is known for her active participation in the World Trade Organisation, G-7 and G-20 groupings.
