[News] EU chief diplomat urges delay of IDB chief vote

[Dr.Drako]

Some lawmakers from the United States and former ministers and presidents in Latin America have publicly expressed their opposition to Claver-Carone, although he is the favorite to win the September 12 elections and has the support of at least 15 countries.

The head of foreign policy of the European Union (EU), Josep Borrell, has asked for a delay in the vote to elect the new president of the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), a closely watched election that has generated controversy due to the presentation of the first candidacy of an American.

In a July 30 letter seen by Reuters, Borrell cited the coronavirus pandemic and the nomination of President Donald Trump's aggressive Latin American adviser, Mauricio Claver-Carone, as reasons to postpone the vote until after March.

"This postponement is more advisable if we consider the presentation, without precedents, of a candidacy to preside over the Bank by the Government of the United States," Borrell wrote in the letter to Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha González Laya.

The letter underscores a growing controversy surrounding the Claver-Carone nomination, known for his tough stance on Venezuela and Cuba.

Some Latin American officials said they saw his candidacy as the breach of a long-standing unwritten agreement that hands over the IDB presidency, an essential credit institution for the region, to a Latin American.

 

Some lawmakers from the United States and former ministers and presidents in Latin America have publicly expressed their opposition to Claver-Carone, although he is the favorite to win the September 12 elections and has the support of at least 15 countries.

Two Argentine government officials told Reuters that Buenos Aires, which has its own candidate, would be in favor of postponing the IDB elections. But with just over 11% of the voting power, they would need the support of other countries to delay the election.

Claver-Carone rejected the idea that Europe would oppose his candidacy in an interview last week, saying he was already in contact with European leaders about future plans.

 

"Do you think Europe is going to look at the majority of the region, which has already come out publicly in support of our candidacy, and say, 'Oh, we're going to go with a country in the region against the overwhelming majority of the region ? The perception of that would be horrible, "Claver-Carone said.

The IDB allows its executive vice president to take office on an interim basis if the president's term ends before a new chief is elected.

The IDB and the United States Government did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Borrell's letter.