A group of Democratic lawmakers in the US Congress Friday pushed President Barack Obama to name renowned American economist Jeffrey Sachs as the next World Bank president. Sachs, whose self-declared candidacy has drawn a number of endorsements from around the world, has the leadership skills for the job, 27 members of the House of Representatives said in a letter to Obama.
"When the member nations of the World Bank meet this spring to select the organization's next president, we strongly encourage you to nominate Professor Jeffrey Sachs," the lawmakers said in the letter. "We believe that Professor Sachs has the experience, expertise, and bold vision for the future needed to lead the World Bank at this critical moment in history." The letter to the Democratic president, dated March 15, was spearheaded by Representative John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat.