No discussion with Merkel on next IMF chief: PM

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said India and Germany did not talk about who should be the next International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief after the disgraceful exit of Dominique Strauss-Kahn following his arrest on charges of sexually attacking a hotel maid in New York.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said India and Germany did not talk about who should be the next International Monetary Fund (IMF) chief after the disgraceful exit of Dominique Strauss-Kahn following his arrest on charges of sexually attacking a hotel maid in New York.

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“Quite honestly, we have not had any discussion on that,” Manmohan Singh told reporters after his talks with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in New Delhi.

The prime minister said India supports the “best” candidate for the top job at the IMF.

Merkel is leading a large delegation of ministers and businessmen to India on her day-long official visit to Delhi as part of an Asian tour that will also take her to Singapore.

Historically, the top IMF position is held by a European but India and China - among the five fastest growing emerging markets - had indicated that they would seek reform of the top international institutions.

Kahn, a French national, resigned from his post of the IMF chief this month after being charged with attempted rape.