Israeli central banker disqualified from IMF race

Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer said his experience had made him a natural candidate to head the IMF at a time of ongoing challenges for the global economy. He called the age limit "irrelevant today."

In this file photo Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer speaks at a news conference at his office in Jerusalem. Photo: AP.

Israel’s central banker, a former No. 2 at the International Monetary Fund, said on Tuesday that he has been disqualified from the race for the group’s top job because of his age.

At 67, Bank of Israel Governor Stanley Fischer is two years above the age limit of 65 that the IMF has set for an incoming managing director.

In a statement, Mr. Fischer expressed regret that the IMF board decided not to change its rules to allow him to run.

He said his experience had made him a natural candidate to head the IMF at a time of ongoing challenges for the global economy. He called the age limit “irrelevant today.”

“The governor is convinced that the age issue is a technical one and a negligible detail compared with the need to choose the most suitable candidate to lead the fund at the present time,” the statement said.

Mr. Fischer’s candidacy had been considered a long shot, primarily because the fund historically has been led by a European.

In a statement from Washington on Monday, the IMF said it would consider two candidates - front—runner Christine Lagarde, the French finance minister, and Agustin Carstens, Mexico’s central bank chief.

The IMF’s last chief, Dominique Strauss—Kahn, resigned last month after his arrest on sexual assault charges. He has pleaded not guilty.