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Bush chooses new World Bank boss Bush chooses new World Bank boss
(9 minutes later)
US President George W Bush has chosen Robert Zoellick, former deputy secretary of state, to be president of the World Bank, US officials say. US President George W Bush has nominated Robert Zoellick, former deputy secretary of state, to be president of the World Bank.
Mr Zoellick would replace Paul Wolfowitz, who resigned amid a scandal over his role in winning a new pay and promotion package for his girlfriend. Mr Zoellick would replace Paul Wolfowitz, who steps down on 30 June.
Mr Wolfowitz will leave the post at the end of June. His nomination will be considered by the World Bank's 24-member board of governors, although the US nomination has always been accepted in the past.
Mr Bush will name Mr Zoellick on Wednesday, and expects the Bank's board to accept him, an aide told Reuters. Some members have called for candidates from outside the United States to be considered for the job.
Chief aide
The World Bank's chief economist, Francois Bourguignon, told the BBC's World Today programme that Mr Zoellick had some useful experience for his new job.The World Bank's chief economist, Francois Bourguignon, told the BBC's World Today programme that Mr Zoellick had some useful experience for his new job.
He has to establish or rather re-establish confidence in the institution because it was a dark chapter with Wolfowitz Bernard Kouchner, French Foreign Minister Q&A: What is the World Bank Choosing a World Bank president He has to establish or rather re-establish confidence in the institution because it was a dark chapter with Wolfowitz Bernard Kouchner, French Foreign Minister Q&A: What is the World Bank Choosing a World Bank boss
"He has been at the forefront of one of the big development issues in the world, which was at the time he was negotiating for the US in the Doha Round, so he knows very well these issues of trade, and the role that trade may play for accelerating development in emerging and poor countries," said Mr Bourguignon. "He was negotiating for the US in the Doha Round, so he knows very well these issues of trade, and the role that trade may play for accelerating development in emerging and poor countries," said Mr Bourguignon.
'A dark chapter'
As deputy secretary of state, Mr Zoellick was chief aide to Condoleezza Rice between February 2005 and June last year.As deputy secretary of state, Mr Zoellick was chief aide to Condoleezza Rice between February 2005 and June last year.
He is also an ex-US trade representative and is currently an executive at the investment bank Goldman Sachs.He is also an ex-US trade representative and is currently an executive at the investment bank Goldman Sachs.
"Mr. Zoellick is certainly the right man for the job," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said."Mr. Zoellick is certainly the right man for the job," French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said.
"He has to establish or rather re-establish confidence in the institution because it was a dark chapter with Wolfowitz," he added."He has to establish or rather re-establish confidence in the institution because it was a dark chapter with Wolfowitz," he added.
Earlier this week Mr Wolfowitz told the BBC that an "overheated" atmosphere at the bank and in the media forced him to resign. Paul Zeitz, Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance, thinks that Mr Zoellick is a terrible choice.
The outgoing head, whose appointment was originally opposed by many European nations, said the bank's board did accept that he had acted ethically, and in good faith. "Zoellick has no significant experience in economic development in poor countries," he said.
And he told the BBC World Service that his own actions were not the root cause of his departure. "He has been a close friend to the brand-name pharmaceutical industry, and the bilateral trade agreements he has negotiated effectively block access to generic medication for millions of people" he added.