Global General

Germany voices respect for IMF chief resignation

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-05-19 17:33

BERLIN -?The German government says it "respects" Dominique Strauss-Kahn's decision to resign as head of the International Monetary Fund and has thanked him for his "valuable" work.

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Thursday's brief statement from the German government said nothing about the process of choosing a successor. But it said that "with this step, the IMF can return quickly to full ability to act."

Chancellor Angela Merkel has made clear that she would like another European to be the IMF's next leader, noting that one of the fund's key tasks at present is tackling the eurozone debt crisis.

Thursday's statement said that "in a difficult global economic phase, Dominique Strauss-Kahn did valuable work for the IMF."