OTTAWA - Canada says it is casting its ballot behind a non-European for the open job at the International Monetary Fund.
The Finance Department says Agustin Carstens, a former finance minister and current head of Mexico's central bank with experience at the IMF, is the best person for the job.
The department says his experiences and background "equip him very well to understand and address ... the challenges faced by the global economy."
The surprise announcement, which was made along with Australia, notes that French finance minister Christine Lagarde is also a credible candidate.
If Carstens is chosen it would be the first time the IMF managing director position has gone to a non-European, but Canada and Australia said nationality should no longer be a criteria.
"It is important that the new IMF managing director be selected in an open and transparent process with the candidate chosen on the basis of merit and not nationality," Friday's release explained.
The post became vacant in late April when Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned after being charged with sexually assaulting a hotel maid.
Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney was briefly talked about as a possible candidate, but was always considered a long-shot given the voting blocks at the IMF. Analysts said if a European did not get the position, it would most likely fall to a candidate from a developing economy.
