WASHINGTON - World Bank staff now have the opportunity to post their uncensored views about their probable next chief, Paul Wolfowitz, on an online message board, a spokesman said Thursday.
"It's an internal website that's designed to be confidential, it's something where they can share their views on the whole succession process," Damian Milverton told AFP.
The site was created by the World Bank staff association after the controversial US deputy defence secretary was nominated by President George W. Bush to fill a post that traditionally lies in Washington's gift.
Wolfowitz's lead role in the war in Iraq and his "neoconservative" world view have made him the most controversial nomination for World Bank president of recent times, and led to much disquiet among the organisation's staff.
However, European governments appear ready begrudgingly to accept Wolfowitz as the successor to James Wolfensohn from June 1. By tradition, Europe gets to choose the head of the International Monetary Fund.
The World Bank's 24 directors, representing its 184 member states, will decide on the nomination at their next meeting on March 31, sources say. There is no other candidate.
The bank's 10,000 staff can post comments to the internal site anonymously. The comments can only be accessed by the site's administrator, and will be compiled into a report to be presented to the board meeting, Milverton said.
"It's a way of channelling opinions, rather than having them circulate all over the world," one staffer said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
03/24/2005 20:48 GMT