Finance Minister Trevor Manuel does not want to be president of the World Bank, despite having his name bandied about as a possible contender, the Independent Online reported on Thursday.
Addressing reporters on Wednesday on the eve of his budget vote in Parliament, Manuel said he was a proud South African and would not consider changing his citizenship just to become the leader of the World Bank following Paul Wolfowitz’s sudden departure this week.
”I am a proud South African and the Americans see the World Bank’s presidency as their birthright,” he said.
Manuel also said he was not suited to running such a complex organisation and was quite happy managing his finance portfolio at home.
”It has not even crossed my mind,” he said, but added that he was aware that his name had been thrown about as a possible successor.
He argued, however, that the job had never been given to a non-American citizen and, furthermore, never to a finance minister. — Sapa