Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the Nigerian finance minister seeking to become the first non-American to lead the World Bank, has warned rich nations that the selection process will test their “level of hypocrisy”.
The World Bank presidency has always been in Washington’s gift, thanks to the voting power of the US and support from other developed nations.
But there has been a strong push from the emerging world for an open contest to chose a successor to succeed Robert Zoellick, which the main World Bank shareholders say they support. Ms Okonjo-Iweala, backed by African leaders, is one of three candidates vying to take over from Mr Zoellick when his tenure ends in July.