Christine Lagarde candidate to succeed him at the head of the IMF – Le Point

The French Christine Lagarde officially announced Friday, January 22 his candidacy for a second term as head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), after receiving several weight support. “Yes, I am candidate for a second term,” she has said on France 2, following the launch of the designation process by the financial institution. “I was honored to receive support from the initiation of the procedure,” she said, mentioning especially France, Britain, Germany and China. Regarding the United States, the largest shareholder of the IMF, she recalled that they used to communicate their position at the end of the process. However, she cited recent support expressed in the administration of President Barack Obama.

“The words of the Vice President (Joe Biden) US the other day in his public intervention were extremely appreciative and almost embarrassing and the Secretary of the Treasury (Jack Lew) hoped to continue working with me, “she said. “I think it is difficult for the US to do more at this stage,” said Christine Lagarde, who has just turned 60 years old. Asked about his dismissal in December before the French courts for his “negligence” in the supposed case of arbitration rendered in favor of Bernard Tapie on the sale of Adidas by Crédit Lyonnais, the former Minister of the Economy assured “acting in the interest of the state, according to the law.” “I have my conscience for me in this case. I hope that justice, at the end of the procedure, as long and painful as it is, will agree,” said Christine Lagarde.

mandatory reforms

In addition, Christine Largarde said France should “absolutely” continue its reforms. France has already carried out reforms, but “the IMF’s point of view, it is essential that it continues to make them,” she said Friday from Davos. “There is talent, there is a potential, there are skills,” said Christine Lagarde on France 2. “these energies must be freed and must enable them to develop their activity,” she added without specifying what measures could be taken.

While the IMF Tuesday lowered its forecast for French growth in 2016 by 0.2 points to 1.3%, Lagarde stressed that the fund ” many countries had revised downward. ” “When you have a growth regime change and economic development model in China as it is the case when you have a general fall in commodity prices, and when you have an asymmetric monetary policy between the various central banks, it is a universe that is not easy “, she has raised. “In periods of low financing costs, during Euro competitive quotes, and in times of low cost raw materials, there is still a lot of features and advantages that France derives its cards a bit game “, said Ms. Lagarde.