The five candidates still in the race for the job of director – general of the World Trade Organisation will know their fate next week , according to AFP .
The Daily Vendor had earlier reported that three candidates including Mexico ’s Jesus Seade , Egypt’s Hamid Mamdouh , and Moldova ’s Tudor Ulianovschi were dropped last month as the Geneva -based organisation said they didn ’t secure enough support in a first of three rounds of voting .
Nigeria ’s Ngozi Okonjo -Iweala , Kenya ’s Amina Mohamed , Britain ’s Liam Fox , Saudi Arabia ’ s Mohammed Al -Tuwaijri , and South Korea ’s Yoo Myung- hee are, however , still in the race .
But next week , the initial pool of eight candidates to replace Roberto Azevedo , who stepped down as the WTO director -general last month a year ahead of schedule, will be whittled down again , with just two remaining after a second elimination round .
It remains unclear whether the WTO members will ultimately agree on another leader from Europe .
There is no requirement for a regional rotation of the WTO chief position .
But there have been calls for an African to finally get a shot at running the organisation, which has counted three director -generals from Europe , and one each from Oceania , Asia and South America since its creation in 1995 .
The WTO aims to select a winner in November , but some have voiced fear that increasing politicisation of the WTO , which relies on consensus to reach decisions, could draw out the process .
Whoever is handed the job in the end will be taking over an organisation mired in multiple crises , and struggling to help members navigate a severe global economic slump triggered by the coronavirus pandemic .
