20 April 2007
Some of the interesting press and commentaries circulating about embattled World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz today.
After long deliberations yesterday the World Bank's Board of Directors issued a statement saying that they have asked the Board's Committee on Governance and Administrative Matters (COGAM) to make the final recommendations "on issues of internal governance".
President Wolfowitz's office issued a statement immediately following the Board' announcement saying that "He looks forward to implementing the recommendations of the Board."
With rumors swirling about President Wolfowitz's possible exit, a number of names have emerged as possible candidates to take over the reins of World Bank President if Wolfowitz is removed from his post.
As the battle between those who support Wolfowitz and those who want to see him leave the World Bank intensifies, people are beginning to climb off the fence and take sides. Of particular interest, Wolfowitz's deputy and Managing Director of the World Bank, Graeme Wheeler, called for Wolfowitz to step down. In addition to Wheeler, a number of World Bank's shareholding country representatives, US Government officials, and civil society have weighed in on the Wolfowitz affair.
The details of Shaha Riza's contract as a consultant and her public statements potentially reinforce the claim that there was a conflict of interest between her activities in Iraq while still employed by the World Bank. These new developments were made public by the Goverment Accountability Project (GAP). GAP's International Program Director, Bea Edwards, said the following:"Considering that Riza was reportedly romantically involved with Wolfowitz at the time, that the Iraq War was imminent, that SAIC was a defense contractor, and that the World Bank had active projects in Iraq, multiple conflicts of interest probably existed”.