Aix-en-Provence (AFP)

French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said Saturday he wants "a European agreement on the best possible personality" to succeed Christine Lagarde at the head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

"Today no decision has been taken by France and no one can claim the support of France," said Le Mayor to a few journalists on the sidelines of the Economic Meeting in Aix-en-Provence.

"The only thing I can say is that there has to be a European agreement," added the minister, who said he told Emmanuel Macron on Friday that he was not a candidate himself. this succession.

"It is the President of the Republic who will decide for a personality according to the indications and recommendations that I will make him," said Bruno Le Maire who will discuss with Emmanuel Macron this weekend, before the meetings of ministers of the EU and the euro zone on Monday and Tuesday in Brussels.

Since its inception in 1944, the IMF has been led by Europeans while the World Bank has always been chaired by an American. And five of the 11 leaders of the IMF were French nationals.

The Mayor said he does not want to seek the succession of Christine Lagarde, chosen by European heads of state and government to take the lead of the European Central Bank (ECB), for the sake of stability in his current position.

"I said that for the first time in 30 years, I wanted to put the job of Minister of Economy and Finance in the long term.That is the strength of Germany," said Bruno Le Mayor.

He added that "stability is key to the economic and financial power of France".

? 2019 AFP