Readers skeptical of keeping IMF direction in European hands | Services from Deutsche Welle | DW | 23.05.2011
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Readers skeptical of keeping IMF direction in European hands

Dominique Strauss-Kahn's fall and resignation from the head of the IMF have prompted widespread debate on who should succeed him. Some readers think the person should come from one of the world's emerging economies.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn at a bail hearing in May.

Several German leaders want Strauss-Kahn's replacement to be a European

The following comments reflect the views of DW-WORLD.DE readers. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.

Merkel calls for European to replace Strauss-Kahn after resignation

Is it not strange that this whole scandal erupted just before the EU's very important Brussels meeting about the problems in the eurozone? Somebody desperately wants to get rid of Strauss-Kahn. Is it the IMF, Wall Street, France's right or left, or all of the above? -- Elisa, France

This is not the first accusation against Strauss-Kahn. This politician will surely appear before an American court unless DNA and other evidence prove otherwise. It isn't understandable how the French are so forgiving of their political leaders' sexual escapades. Strauss-Kahn has earned the derogatory nickname of "the great seducer" by refusing to forsake his raunchy past. May the French gather en masse and leave him to his excuses. -- "Domgiovanni," Great Britain

There will be no negative impact on the euro or on the IMF. However, the survivability of the euro is in doubt. It was a mistake, as were the Schengen treaty and the politicization of the former Common Market. It is all destined to fail! Charlemagne tried it. Napoleon tried it. There is no reason the EU will not fail as well. People haven't changed, nor has pride in one's nation faded. -- Karl K., USA

The EU was supposed to be a united group with a central bank to handle their problems without begging for money from the IMF. If they cannot cope with their problems without asking for help, go back to the way it was. -- Jim, USA

Opinion: IMF should remain under European direction

Strauss-Kahn did the right thing to resign, but I think Americans have treated him in an unfair manner. He is no hardened criminal, and the allegations have not been proven yet. However, the way he was rounded up is very questionable. Anyway, I think the next IMF head should be Kemal Dervis or another non-European, specifically, someone from the large emerging powers in Asia. Much of Europe's clout has disappeared in the past 10 years, and the world's economic power has shifted to the American and Asian domains. -- Amir W., Pakistan

It is crucial and beyond question that the IMF should be spearheaded by an "expert," regardless of where he or she comes from. Restricting the pool of choice to only one region, the EU, is absolutely uncompetitive and does not fit the nature of the "International" fund. The same should apply to the World Bank. -- Stanislav S., Slovakia

Considering the clout that the BRICs [Brazil, Russia, India and China] have gathered and are gathering, it would be a better idea to choose the next IMF chief from the BRIC nations. The representation of a new world order cannot be postponed or denied in the name of "tradition." The author refers to European nations' "experience" in handling world financial matters in compared to the experience of the BRIC nations. Had affairs been handled deftly, we would not have seen Ireland, Greece, Portugal or Spain facing the problems they have today. The proposal to make the next IMF chief a European shows more "financial patriotism" than a sense of the most pressing needs. -- Raghavendra P., India

It would be best to just dissolve the IMF and World Bank. Third World debts to both institutions should be forgiven. The BRIC countries could create a convertible, gold-backed, or commodity-based currency that would replace the US dollar as the world's reserve currency. Both the US and EU are totally bankrupt. -- Michael H., USA


Compiled by Shant Shahrigian
Editor: Andreas Illmer

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