Germany’s efforts to win EU-wide support for its new candidate to run the International Monetary Fund have had mixed results

Date: 09/03/2000

Berlin had to withdraw its first choice, top finance ministry official Caio Koch-Weser, in the face of US opposition. It has now proposed Horst Köhler, currently head of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The Portuguese presidency is backing the new candidate, but Italian Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini appeared to rule him out this week, saying the post should be filled by a finance minister and not a technician.