Thread: Hillary Clinton interested in becoming head of World Bank?

Hillary Clinton interested in becoming head of World Bank?

Hillary Clinton, President Barack Obama's Secretary of State, has been in discussions with the White House about stepping down from her foreign policy job next year to becoming head of the World Bank, it has been reported.


Hillary Clinton: Could she be interested in becoming head of the World Bank? Photo: AFP/Getty Images

By Toby Harnden, Washington
10:24PM BST 09 Jun 2011

Mrs Clinton, the former First Lady, Senator for New York and rival to Mr Obama in the 2008 Democratic primary race, is said to be eager to become the first female president of the World Bank should the post become vacant next year.

"Hillary Clinton wants the job," a source close to Mrs Clinton told Reuters, which broke the news of the possible move.

Robert Zoellick, a former Bush administration official, is believed to be ready to step down as president at the end of his term in the middle of next year.

Mrs Clinton has made clear she does not want to remain US Secretary of State, a gruelling job demanding months of world travel each year, beyond Mr Obama's first term.

Another source told Reuters that Mr Obama supported her taking the helm at the World Bank, which is traditionally led by an American.

Once formally nominated for the post by Mr Obama, Mrs Clinton's appointment would require approval by the 187 member countries of the World Bank.

Philippe Reines, a spokesman for Mrs Clinton, issued a strong denial, releasing a statement saying: "Secretary Clinton has not had any conversations with the president, the White House or anyone about moving to the World Bank. She has expressed absolutely no interest in the job. She would not take it if offered."

Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, also denied that Mrs Clinton was interested in the role.

Taking over the World Bank could be seen as an end to Mrs Clinton's domestic political ambitions.

If she served out a five-year term, that would take her beyond the 2016 election, when she would be 69.

On the other hand, if she stepped down early from the World Bank she could enter the 2016 race for the White House with historically unparalleled experience in foreign policy, economic policy, on Capitol Hill and as First Lady.

Discussions about the next president of the World Bank would be a natural part of talks about who should replace Dominique Strauss Kahn as head of the International Monetary Fund. The Frenchman resigned after being accused of sexually assaulting a hotel maid in New York.

The head of the IMF has always been a European and the World Bank presidency has always been held by an American, though this is now being challenged by some countries with emerging economies. The Obama administration is expected to back Christine Lagarde, the French Minister, for the IMF.

As Secretary of State, Mrs Clinton has been outspoken on global development issues, particularly the need to improve the economic circumstances of females in developing countries.

The World Bank provides billions of dollars in development funds to the poorest countries and is also at the centre of issues such as climate change, post-conflict reconstruction and transitions to democracy.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldne ... -Bank.html

Hillary Clinton Seeks To Run World Bank

Submitted by Tyler Durden
06/09/2011 17:28 -0400
169 comments

Barack Obama Erin Burnett International Monetary Fund NBC Obama Administration Reuters White House World Bank

Update 2: State Department official says Clinton would not even take World Bank job if it was offered - CBS News

Update: NBC WIRE: From Philippe Reines, a Clinton spokeman: "It's 100% untrue, Reuters is wrong. That's on the record."

Phew, that was scary...

We are surprised that the "recidivist rapist" post-DSK PR backlash took so long. Yet it is now here. From Reuters:

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been in discussions with the White House about leaving her job next year to become head of the World Bank, sources familiar with the discussions said Thursday.
Far more importantly, another rat leaves Obama's sinking ship. In the meantime, feminists everywhere rejoice, because, you know, Hillary, extremely experienced in economic, bankruptcy, and other financial issues is a woman. Next up: Oprah seeks to run the Bilderberg group, in order to give it a more "streamlined", humane appearance and Rachel Maddow in rumored to run the Trilateral Commission. Obviously, Erin Burnett is a shoo in for the CFR. And yes, the world has now officially gone crazy.

From Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/ ... P720110609

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has been in discussions with the White House about leaving her job next year to become head of the World Bank, sources familiar with the discussions said Thursday.

The former first lady and onetime political rival to President Barack Obama quickly became one of the most influential members of his cabinet after she began her tenure at State in early 2009.

She has said publicly she did not plan to stay on at the State Department for more than four years. Associates say Clinton has expressed interest in having the World Bank job should the Bank's current president, Robert Zoellick, leave at the end of his term, in the middle of 2012.

"Hillary Clinton wants the job," said one source who knows the secretary well.

A second source also said Clinton wants the position.

A third source said Obama has already expressed support for the change in her role. It is unclear whether Obama has formally agreed to nominate her for the post, which would require approval by the 187 member countries of the World Bank.

The White House declined to comment.

A spokesman for Clinton, Philippe Reines, denied she wanted the job or had conversations with the White House about it.

Revelations of these discussions could hurt Clinton's efforts as America's top diplomat if she is seen as a lame duck in the job at a time of great foreign policy challenges for the Obama administration.

However, the timing of the discussions is not unusual given that the United States is considering whether to support another European as head of the World Bank's sister organization, the IMF.

The head of the IMF has always been a European and the World Bank presidency has always been held by an American.

That unwritten gentleman's agreement between Europe and the United States, is now being aggressively challenged by fast-growing emerging market economies that have been shut out of the process.

The United States has not publicly supported the European candidate for the IMF, French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, although Washington's support is expected.

Neither institution has ever been headed by a woman.

If Clinton were to leave State, John Kerry, a close Obama ally who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is among those who could be considered as a possible replacement for her.

http://www.zerohedge.com/article/hillar ... world-bank