Brussels, 21/12/2012 (Agence Europe) - Three candidates are already in the running, including two women - the Costa Rican minister for trade, Anabel Gonzalez, and her Indonesian counterpart, Mari Pangetsu.
Applications for succeeding Pascal Lamy at the head of the WTO are now open. Lamy, from France, has been the director general at the WTO since 1 September 2005 and is now finishing his second mandate. He was previously European Commissioner for Trade (1999-2005). His successor at the WTO is likely to come from a developing country, in accordance with the tradition of alternation.
Following on from Mike Moore (1999-2002) from New Zealand, was Supachai Panitchpakdi (2002-2005) from Thailand, who preceded Lamy. The next WTO boss “will obviously not be a European this time”, European Commissioner for Trade Karel De Gucht has already announced. Another unwritten rule is that the person appointed to the head of the WTO should have been at least a minister or senior international official.
Three ministers or former ministers for trade are already in the running and each of them is from a developing country. On 17 December, Ghana proposed the candidature of John Kwadwo Kyerematen, his country's former minister for trade from 2003-2007. On 18 December, Costa Rica presented the candidature of Anabel Gonzalez, its minister for trade. On 19 December, Indonesia put forward the name of Mari Elka Pangetsu, its current minister for tourism, who was previously minister for trade from 2004-2011.
The 158 member states of the WTO have until 31 December to submit an application. The WTO General Council will hear candidates from 29 January 2013, before appointing the new director general by consensus by 31 May 2013. Lamy's mandate expires on 31 August 2013. Besides the three candidates already in the running, other names are also being circulated - Tim Grosser, New Zealand's minister for trade, and also Roberto Azevedo, Brazil's ambassador to the WTO. (EH/transl.fl)