MEPs Challenge Wolfowitz appointment

11.04.21am GMT Mon 21st Mar 2005

A cross-party campaign is being launched in the European Parliament to block the appointment of Paul Wolfowitz as President of the World Bank.

A written declaration has been tabled by senior MEPs Daniel Cohn-Bendit (Greens), Andrew Duff (Liberal), Alain Lamassoure (EPP) and Hannes Swoboda (Socialist) that invites the member states not to accept the American nomination.

Andrew Duff said: "We object both to the process of the nomination and to its substance. Wolfowitz is an unabashed right-winger whose policies are out of line with those of the European Union. He will behave like an American pro-consul and will never command the trust of the global development community.

"The EU has more voting weight in the World Bank than the US. It should use it."

ENDS