29 May 2007
Representatives Frank, Obey, Rangel and Lantos furthermore note that the best candidate for the job need not be American.
The Chairmen sent the letter to President Bush last Thursday May 24. Earlier last week, the House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing on the effectiveness of the World Bank in fighting poverty.
In spite of global calls for an open, merit-based process, it appears that the United States will once again effectively appoint the next Bank President.
Both events took place as current World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz prepares to step down on June 30, following a heated debate over his role in securing improper benefits for his former girlfriend Shaha Ali Riza. Read more about the Wolfowitz scandal on BIC's Wolfowitz Watch webpage.
Read the May 24 letter and testimonies presented at the May 22 hearing on World Bank effectiveness on the Financial Services Committee website (May 24 letter also reproduced below).
May 24 letter to President Bush
May 24, 2007
The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President,
You will soon nominate a candidate for the presidency of the World Bank, and we wanted to take this opportunity to share our thoughts as you consider this important decision. This nomination comes at a critical time for the world’s most important development agency. Regardless of what one thinks about the process leading up to Mr. Wolfowitz’s resignation there can be no doubt that the affair has left the staff, board and, most importantly the eighty-one poorest nations who depended upon the Bank’s resources and technical skill deeply concerned about what happens next. Your nomination is an opportunity to send a loud and unambiguous signal of the commitment of the United States to the Bank’s core anti-poverty mission.
There has been much discussion of whether or not the nominee should or must be an American. We think that misses the point. The nominee should be deeply committed to American values, but need not have an American address. The global pool of talent is deep, and we should make it clear that the United States believes that the best nominee could come from anywhere.
We also urge you to use this opportunity to make it clear that we will work openly and cooperatively with our partners to identify the woman or man with the right mix of intellectual, management and diplomatic skills. This would not only be the right thing to do but would also signal that our country is fully committed to the multi-lateral agencies.
Barney Frank David R. Obey
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Charles Rangel Tom Lantos
Member of Congress Member of Congress