IMF's Georgieva interested in second term as fund's head, has support, say sources
By David Lawder
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva is interested in a second five-year term heading up the global lender and is poised to secure sufficient support among member countries, sources familiar with the plans said.
Georgieva's term ends on Sept. 30.
The Bulgarian economist last week won the backing of French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, who told reporters during the Group of 20 finance meetings in Sao Paulo that Georgieva had done a «great job» leading the institution and that France would support her for a second term.
Le Maire's support was critical, given that European countries traditionally nominate a candidate to lead the IMF, although all European Union members must agree. The final decision is made by the institution's board of directors.
Georgieva last week told Reuters that she was focused on the job at hand and not on whether to seek a new term. At a press briefing on Thursday, IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack referred questions about a second term to Georgieva herself.
Bloomberg first reported that Georgieva was interested in a second term with likely sufficient support.
Georgieva is the second woman to head the IMF and the first person from an emerging market economy.
Keeping Georgieva on for a second term would help answer longstanding concerns raised by emerging market and developing countries over the U.S.-European duopoly at the two global financial institutions, the IMF and World Bank.
A self-described «eternal optimist,» Georgieva has weathered huge shocks to the global economy ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak just months after she took office to the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
She is focused on bolstering
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