According to Xinhua:
The governments of the European Union (EU) on Wednesday gave their endorsement to World Bank president nominee Paul Wolfowitz, currently US deputy defense secretary, whose nomination has stirred controversy following his key role in the Iraq war and his lack of experience.
At a press conference here, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, referred to Wolfowitz as “the incoming president of the World Bank.”
Good news. This blog has made no secret of its admiration for the idealistic Wolfowitz. If this man succeeds in making international aid more transparent and freer of corruption, his place in history will be quite remarkable. Of course the growing freedom movements across the Middle East are in some small way (perhaps not even small) attributable to him.
UPDATE: From the Financial Times… Mr Wolfowitz said: “I understand that I am, to put it mildly, a controversial figure, but I hope, as people get to know me better, they will understand that I really do believe deeply in the mission of the bank.” Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, the German development minister, said: “It is clear that this is for him a new beginning.”
How about one from the Germans? [Not likely.-ed.]
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