![]() officials who oppose Malpass told their European counterparts they were working to remove the World Bank boss, a second EU official said, also speaking anonymously so as to discuss sensitive diplomacy. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen wants to happen to respond to the scale of the climate crisis in the developing world. He is seen by NGOs, European officials and some World Bank employees as being too reluctant to radically shift the bank's lending to tackle climate change, especially in the world's poorest countries - something that U.S. officials have fielded calls from their counterparts in several Western European governments urging them to fire Malpass ever since Biden entered office, according to people familiar with the discussions on both sides. Nevertheless, those who want Malpass ousted feel he is suddenly vulnerable and a dormant campaign to remove him has been revived.Įuropean governments are not officially calling for a replacement following last week's comments, but U.S. President Joe Biden | Chip Somodevilla/Getty ImagesĪn EU official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive deliberations, added the bloc’s leadership is also focused on systemic improvements at the World Bank, noting “there seems to be very little appetite at this stage” for a leadership change. David Malpass’ fate lies in the hands of U.S. “We are firmly on Washington's side on this, now and in the future,” said Flasbarth. From Europe’s perspective, Malpass’ position is an internal U.S. “Personnel issues are not on the agenda at the moment," said Flasbarth. “It is a partnership, is how we see this,” said Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.Ī source familiar with the administration’s thinking said: “There is currently no formal process within the administration to consider pushing for Malpass’ removal.”ĭespite Swiss, German and Danish officials all expressing concern in comments to POLITICO - German Economic Cooperation and Development State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth said Malpass’ statement was “irritating” - none have publicly called for him to go. Treasury and the other big countries that are also major World Bank shareholders. On Friday, the White House condemned Malpass’ comments but pushed responsibility to the U.S. “There’s no executioner here,” said one person who has been involved in Biden administration discussions on the bank chief. "We need a World Bank leader who fully appreciates the threat of climate change," 27 House Democrats wrote in a letter that described Malpass as "brazenly ignorant towards the impacts of the climate crisis."īut opinions on what to do about Malpass are split within the administration. Pressure on Biden to remove Malpass grew Thursday, when members from his own Democratic party urged canning the World Bank chief. as the largest shareholder selects the head of the world’s biggest development bank, although the appointment has to be ratified by the bank's board. President Joe Biden, who has worked hard to reestablish Washington as a leader on climate change after that was undermined by Donald Trump, the president who appointed Malpass.
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