Dominique Strauss-Kahn has resigned as managing director of the International Monetary Fund, saying he wanted to devote "all his energy" to battle the sexual assault charges he faces in New York.
... in http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/may/19/dominique-strauss-kahn-resigns-imf
The IMF's executive board released a letter from Strauss-Kahn dated 18 May, in which the former managing director denied the allegations against him and went on to say that it was with "infinite sadness" that he presented the board with his resignation.
"I think at this time first of my wife – whom I love more than anything – of my children, of my family, of my friends. I think also of my colleagues at the fund; together we have accomplished such great things over the last three years and more.
"To all, I want to say that I deny with the greatest possible firmness all of the allegations that have been made against me.
"I want to protect this institution which I have served with honour and devotion, and especially – especially – I want to devote all my strength, all my time, and all my energy to proving my innocence."
Strauss-Kahn's resignation comes after increasing international pressure for him to step down as he faces charges of assaulting an employee at a New York hotel. The maid, a 32-year-old immigrant from the west African country of Guinea, told police that Strauss-Kahn, 62, came out of the bathroom naked, chased her down, forced her to perform oral sex on him and tried to remove her underwear before she broke free and fled the room.
Strauss-Kahn, who has held in New York's Rikers Island prison since Monday, is to make a second application for bail on Thursday with his lawyers set to offer new bail terms including $1m (£619,000) in cash and placing their client under house arrest.
A judge rejected his initial plea for bail agreeing with prosecutors that he was a flight risk.
A grand jury has been convened to assess whether Strauss-Kahn will be indicted. Their decision will not be known until Friday. The decision to press for bail ahead of the decision suggests lawyers are urgently trying to free him. If he is released on bail, the deadline to secure an indictment would be extended.
Selection process begins
The IMF's statement late on Wednesday said the process of choosing a new leader would begin, but in the meantime John Lipsky would remain acting managing director.
Several potential candidates to replace Strauss-Kahn have already been suggested, although none has yet indicated that they are interested. These include French finance minister Christine Lagarde, former Bundesbank president Axel Weber, and Kemal Dervis, Turkey's former minister of economic affairs.
The IMF will hold a vote among its member countries to choose the next managing director. The US has the largest share of voting power, with 16.7% of the total votes, followed by Japan with 6%, Germany with 5.7% and the UK and France with 4.85% each.
To win, a candidate must attract 85% of the votes. Critics say it allows Washington and the leading European nations to control the process, so that that IMF is always run by a European in return for an US citizen at the head of the World Bank.
This status quo could be now be challenged, though. On Tuesday China, which holds just 3.65% of the voting power, said the selection of the next IMF leader should be based on "fairness, transparency and merit".
Brazil's finance minister, Guido Mantega, reiterated this point on Wednesday, arguing was important the selection process was based on merit, rather than on nationality. Brazil, which is an important, fast-growing emerging economy, has just 1.38% of the voting power - less than Belgium or the Netherlands.
European leaders have reportedly been lobbying to maintain their grip on the IMF. German chancellor Angela Merkel indicated on Monday that she favoured another European at the helm of the IMF.
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