Lagarde, job offers top of the IMF (AFP)

WASHINGTON (AFP)-French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde made his case to become the next leader of the IMF, vowing to promote reforms to make the lender most representative power of the global economy.

Lagarde said he had "productive" one on one meetings with IMF Executive Directors beginning Wednesday and Thursday in Washington, a three hours before the interview with the Council to 24 members in the afternoon.

The 187-nation needs to "continue its move toward responsive, even-handed and balanced action in support of global economic and financial stability, the better to serve the entire membership," he said in a statement to the Board of Directors.

"I'm not here to represent the interests of each region of the world, but rather the entire membership," he said.

Lagarde is the front-runner in the race to the top left vacant after IMF Managing Director Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned on 18 May to fight allegations of sexual assault in New York. Strauss-Kahn denies the accusations.

Only rival of Lagarde, Governor of the Bank of Mexico Agustín Carstens, admitted the possibility that Lagarde to be elected by the Board "are quite high."

Lagarde has the support of Europe, which holds 24 seats in the Executive Council and seven, and the Council hopes to select the new CEO of consensus.

Under a tacit agreement between United States and Europe, the IMF leadership has always gone to a European while the top job at the World Bank has always gone to an American.

The United States, the largest stakeholder with IMF about 17 percent of the votes, not endorsed publicly Lagarde or Carstens, considered a candidate emerging.

Lagarde met with US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner Thursday morning before heading to the interview.

Geithner "believes strong leadership qualities of that Minister Lagarde and experience makes her a great candidate for IMF Chief Executive talent," Treasury spokesperson Natalie Wyeth said.

"Reaffirmed once again its appreciation for strong candidates who came forward, particularly at this critical time for the global economy," he said.

Lagarde emerged from the headquarters of the IMF after the hearing of the Council looking relaxed.

"I believe that the Fund should be more responsive, sicuramente more effective and more legitimate," said a gaggle of journalists waiting.

"And that really involves many potential improvements but also the continuation of the reforms that have been undertaken by my predecessor," he said, his word choice for compatriot Strauss-Kahn suggested she feels confident about his selection as the new boss.

Lagarde said the IMF was a "remarkable" with an "exceptional".

"Should become more responsive, more involved, more legitimate with respect to the integration of its 187 members. In any case, that would be my goal, "he added. "It is now for membership to decide."

The Board of the IMF has set a tight deadline to fill the top job: 30 June.

The Executive Committee meets Tuesday, with the goal of reaching a decision "by consensus," according to the IMF, but in the event of a deadlock that will decide by majority vote.

The announcement of the new CEO could come before the deadline next Thursday, IMF spokesman David Hawley said.

Interview of Lagarde with the following on the heels of two days of Carstens at IMF. The Council also had a three-hour interview on Tuesday and the IMF released its statement to the Board of Directors.

Lagarde, 55, would be the first woman to head the IMF headquarters in Washington, which oversees the global financial system and provides emergency loans to countries members of middle and high income.

A lawyer by training, who was also the first Director General of the IMF that was not an economist.

His rival Carstens, 53, is an economist who worked at the IMF, including a stint at number three, Deputy Director General, from 2003 to 2006.

Lagarde addressed head-on, as European criticism, would have a conflict of interests in dealing with the involvement of the IMF in Greece's financial Rescues, Ireland and Portugal.

"I am the record for having supported a process of selection, regardless of nationality. Consequently, the French and European should be an advantage or a handicap, "he said in his statement to the Board of Directors.

The IMF said no date has been set for the next Director.

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