Geithner, EU finance ministers pressure Strauss-Kahn to resign from IMF top post

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – Major global financial leaders are convinced that embattled International Monetary Fund Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn is no longer capable of running the fund because of the sexual scandal he is facing.

As a result, calls are mounting for the IMF chief to resign from the top post. Among those who issued the challenge are U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and European Union finance ministers.

Geithner said the sexual assault charge against Strauss-Kahn has rendered the 62-year old IMF chief no longer capable of running the fund. Geithner pushed for the IMF executive board to designate an interim head, although the fund had named on Monday another IMF official, John Lipsky, as temporary replacement for Strauss-Kahn.

Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter backed Geithner’s call. She said the court’s refusal to grant the IMF head a bail is hurting the fund’s image. Spanish Finance Minister Elana Salgado said because of the extraordinarily serious charges filed against Strauss-Kahn, he should make the decision to step down from his post.

Amid the pressure for Strauss-Kahn to quit his post, developing nations added to the growing clamor for the IMF to stop giving the top IMF post to Europeans. China, Brazil and Turkey urged the fund to choose Strauss-Kahn’s replacement by merit and not by geography.

The Chinese and Brazilian foreign ministries said it was time to end a six-decade gentleman’s agreement that guaranteed the managing director’s post to a European. Turkey Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek was even more direct and said he is qualified to replace Strauss-Kahn, who is a Frenchman.

Reports said that Strauss-Kahn may admit that he had sex with a 32-year old hotel maid, but would insist the act was consensual. Lawyer Jeffrey Shapiro, who represents the accuser, identified the woman as a native of Guinea in West Africa and has a 15-year old daughter. Shapiro said the maid was not aware who Strauss-Kahn was and she feels isolated and is now in hiding.

Strauss-Kahn, a favorite to win France’s 2012 presidential election, is facing seven charges which could lead to a prison term of up to 25 years. He is on a suicide watch in New York City’s Rikers island prison.

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