Take Action! Help us call for a more transparent and fair selection process for the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)!
In early May the Managing Director of the IMF, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, resigned after being arrested for attempted rape, creating an instant scandal and a slew of media coverage. In fact, Kahn’s abrupt resignation has brought an unprecedented level of attention to the IMF, highlighting both the influence of this institution as well as the serious need for a transparent, merit-based and fair Managing Director selection process.
So why does all of this matter? The International Monetary Fund is one of the most important players when it comes to issues like poverty, development and the global economy. Whether pooling resources from member countries to provide loans and foreign assistance, responding to global financial crises, or monitoring major economies, the IMF has a strong voice on the issues that matter most. It is crucial that such a body have excellent and trustworthy leadership.
However, the current process essentially allows the European Union to unilaterally choose who the next Managing Director will be; the decision is made behind closed doors and has always resulted in the selection of a European. And guess what? The nations of the EU do not even come close to representing a majority of the IMF’s membership. The result? The IMF is unfairly predisposed to represent the interests of the richest nations at the expense of emerging and developing economies.
We can’t stand for this lack of transparency, objectivity, and fairness any longer—and as a young adult with a vested interest in important global policy issues, you shouldn’t either. Don’t let a virtual “old boys network” dictate who will rule one of the most powerful international institutions.
You can take action here by joining us as we call on the IMF to implement a selection process that is merit-based, open to all regardless of country of origin or citizenship, and requires the winner to have a majority of both voting shares and IMF member country votes. With all of the publicity from the Kahn scandal, now is the time to take action and demand a leader of the IMF that we can trust. Send an appeal to the US Executive Director of the IMF and make your voice heard!
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