Fight for IMF top job goes global
Emerging economies are expected to battle hard for the top job at the International Monetary Fund, following the arrest of current head Dominique Strauss-Kahn, analysts say.
That could pit the fast-growing markets of Asia and Latin America against Europe.
Developing countries are seeking more influence on the world stage as their economic clout increases.
Mr Strauss-Kahn has been charged with attempted rape in New York.
European officials, however, say the debt problems in the region mean any replacement should come from Europe.
The current structure for leadership at the IMF and the World Bank is one where the former is headed by a European and the latter by an American.
"There is growing disquiet, particularly among emerging nations, about this division of roles," said Jan Randolph, head of sovereign risk analysis at IHS Global Insight.
He says China could use its influence to support an emerging market candidate for the top IMF job.
"China is the biggest new IMF bondholder. Its huge financial contribution in 2008 effectively tripled the size of the IMF's lending power during the financial crisis."
That financial might is coming into focus as developing countries start taking a larger share of the global economy.
Possible successor
Although Mr Strauss-Kahn has not officially resigned, most analysts expect that he will do so.
John Lipsky, who was named as the IMF's acting managing director, has already said he will step down in August, when his term ends.
Names of potential candidates for the top job are already being bandied about.
Singapore's finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, former South African finance minister Trevor Manuel and Kemal Dervis, Turkey's former minister of economic affairs are possible successor, according to former IMF official Eswar Prasad.
The highest profile European candidate for the job is France's finance minister Christine Lagarde, according to the Financial Times.
Reuters news agency has compiled its own list of names which also include Montek Singh Ahluwalia of India and Agustin Carstens of Mexico.
BBC News
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