Friday, May 20, 2011

Augustin Carstens gets pushed as next IMF head

Round these non-US non-European parts there's a movement starting to get current head of Mexico's Central Bank, Augustin Carstens, voted in as the new head of the International Monetary Fund. Just think of the advantages:
  • He knows the IMF backwards, having been a sub-secretary there between 2003 and 2006
  • He has an excellent track record as both Mexico FinMin (2006 to 2009) and subsequently head of the CenBank, having overseen the Mexico recovery and growth period in good style.
  • Current Mexico FinMin, Ernesto Cordero, is pushing pro-Carstens and yesterday said "I must be respectful...this is a personal opinion, he [Carstens] would be the best candidate", a strong endorsement from the corridors of power.
  • But MOST IMPORTANTLY, check out this recent photo of Carstens:

Let's face it, we're not going to get any more sex scandals if Carstens is chosen, which is the biggest bonus of the lot.

UPDATE: So much for breaking the European stranglehold on the IMF. Felix Salmon is now reporting that Christine Lagarde is a lock for the job.