Wolfowitz confirmed as World Bank head

THE World Bank last night unanimously confirmed Paul Wolfowitz as its president, despite quiet misgivings by some members over his role as the Bush administration’s architect of the Iraq war.

The outcome had already largely been decided in the capitals of the bank’s major shareholder governments when the 24-member board met in a vote that was conducted by consensus.

Since his nomination on March 16 by Bush, the deputy defence secretary has sought to quell criticism of his selection.

He has met many countries’ representatives to the World Bank and made a trip to Europe, where he won the endorsement of European Union governments.

He has said that poverty reduction and economic development were the bank’s core businesses and that he would not pursue any political agenda.

“I really believe the mission of the bank,” Mr Wolfowitz said in an interview on March 16. “I think one of the challenges of the institution, and therefore, for me, is how to make sure it makes the best use of the considerable resource at its disposal, which are both financial and human.”

Mr Wolfowitz will have a few months of transition before he takes the reins of the bank on June 1, when James Wolfensohn steps down after 10 years at the helm of an organisation that spends billions of euros a year in projects aimed at reducing poverty in the world’s least developed countries.

The Pentagon’s number two civilian official was the only nominee for the World Bank job, which by informal agreement is headed by an American, while the top post of the International Monetary Fund usually goes to a European.

A group of anti-poverty activists from 50 Years is Enough, ActionAid International USA and Mobilisation for Global Justice held a small demonstration outside the bank’s headquarters in Washington to oppose “the one-horse race.”

But Mr Wolfowitz’s nomination was assured despite private disquiet among Europeans who opposed the US invasion of Iraq but who are hoping Washington will support their candidates for top jobs in other international agencies like the World Trade Organisation.