Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Sunday, Jun 01, 2025

‘There’s no executioner’: The plot to replace World Bank boss stalls

‘There’s no executioner’: The plot to replace World Bank boss stalls

David Malpass’ missteps on climate change haven’t brought the swift end to his career his foes had hoped for.

A long-running campaign to oust World Bank President David Malpass — led by climate hawks within the Biden administration and European capitals — has been given a huge assist by Malpass himself.

But no one wants to strike the final blow, yet.

In an extraordinary unforced error during a New York Times panel last week, Malpass dodged answering directly when asked if burning fossil fuels contributed to global warming, saying only: "I am not a scientist." Two days later he said: "It’s clear that greenhouse gas emissions from human activity are causing climate change," and that he should have been more precise in saying he was not a climate-denier.

Cue outrage and calls for him to be fired.

Malpass’ fate lies in the hands of U.S. President Joe Biden, who has worked hard to reestablish Washington as a leader on climate change after that was undermined by Donald Trump, the president who appointed Malpass. In a long-standing convention, the U.S. as the largest shareholder selects the head of the world’s biggest development bank, although the appointment has to be ratified by the bank's board.

Pressure on Biden to remove Malpass grew Thursday, when members from his own Democratic party urged canning the World Bank chief. "We need a World Bank leader who fully appreciates the threat of climate change," 27 House Democrats wrote in a letter that described Malpass as "brazenly ignorant towards the impacts of the climate crisis."

But opinions on what to do about Malpass are split within the administration.

“There’s no executioner here,” said one person who has been involved in Biden administration discussions on the bank chief.

On Friday, the White House condemned Malpass’ comments but pushed responsibility to the U.S. Treasury and the other big countries that are also major World Bank shareholders. “It is a partnership, is how we see this,” said Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

A source familiar with the administration’s thinking said: “There is currently no formal process within the administration to consider pushing for Malpass’ removal.”

Despite Swiss, German and Danish officials all expressing concern in comments to POLITICO — German Economic Cooperation and Development State Secretary Jochen Flasbarth said Malpass’ statement was “irritating” — none have publicly called for him to go.

“Personnel issues are not on the agenda at the moment," said Flasbarth. From Europe’s perspective, Malpass’ position is an internal U.S. matter. “We are firmly on Washington's side on this, now and in the future,” said Flasbarth.

David Malpass’ fate lies in the hands of U.S. President Joe Biden


An EU official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive deliberations, added the bloc’s leadership is also focused on systemic improvements at the World Bank, noting “there seems to be very little appetite at this stage” for a leadership change.

Nevertheless, those who want Malpass ousted feel he is suddenly vulnerable and a dormant campaign to remove him has been revived.

European governments are not officially calling for a replacement following last week's comments, but U.S. officials have fielded calls from their counterparts in several Western European governments urging them to fire Malpass ever since Biden entered office, according to people familiar with the discussions on both sides.

He is seen by NGOs, European officials and some World Bank employees as being too reluctant to radically shift the bank's lending to tackle climate change, especially in the world's poorest countries — something that U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen wants to happen to respond to the scale of the climate crisis in the developing world.

Since the comments last week, U.S. officials who oppose Malpass told their European counterparts they were working to remove the World Bank boss, a second EU official said, also speaking anonymously so as to discuss sensitive diplomacy.


More pressure


That campaign has been bolstered by environmental groups who, after agitating in the background for months, are ramping up the public pressure campaign to force the Biden administration’s hand.

Prominent activist Bill McKibben joined other advocates for a protest outside the World Bank’s Washington headquarters on Tuesday, urging its shareholders to “fire Malpass.” Activists will also hold daily demonstrations during the World Bank’s annual meeting the week of October 11, said Collin Rees, a campaigner with Oil Change International.

Many view the annual meeting as a critical moment and attempts to sway the White House are ramping up.

The White House is getting “private pressure” on Malpass, said Justin Guay, director of global climate strategy with the Sunrise Project, who said, “they are hearing more calls that he needs to go.”

One person who has spoken directly with Biden officials said the administration is weighing a list of replacement names, which they said indicates the Malpass impasse has reached new heights. Several people said Special Climate Envoy John Kerry’s team at the State Department is pushing hard for a change in bank leadership.

“John Kerry is on this bandwagon. He’s no lover of Malpass,” the person said, requesting anonymity to discuss details of private conversations.

Activists in front of the World Bank's headquarters in Washington on September 22, 2022


Asked about Malpass at the same New York Times event, Kerry said only: "I can’t comment on what the status is of an individual — that is the president’s decision."

The State Department declined to comment.

Names that green groups have put forward for consideration for the World Bank position include Rockefeller Foundation President Raj Shah, London School of Economics Director Minouche Shafik, Federal Reserve Vice Chair Lael Brainard, U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power, Export-Import Bank Chair Reta Jo Lewis and Raghuram Rajan, the former chief economist and research director at the International Monetary Fund.

But the U.S. government is split on the best way forward.

Malpass is a Republican and a former official in the Trump Treasury Department. A person involved in administration conversations around him said there was a fear that sacking the World Bank chief would set a precedent and any future Democrat-appointed bank leader would be seen as fair game by a Republican president.

Arguments to keep him in place are largely led by the Treasury, according to two people familiar with the discussions. The department reviewed Malpass’ position after winning power and concluded that it was possible to work with him to institute some of the sweeping reforms to the bank that Yellen has publicly demanded.

Treasury did not respond to a question on whether there was a review of Malpass last year.

A Treasury official noted that it is expecting the World Bank to make more progress on goals Yellen laid out in a July meeting with the heads of multilateral development banks, which included steering more finance to climate adaptation and renewable energy.

There had been some evidence that efforts to nudge Malpass had been paying off, with even some major critics accepting that a slow change was happening under his watch.

The World Bank delivered a record $31.7 billion in fiscal year 2022 to address climate change — up 19 percent over the previous year's financing, which was also a record.

"The World Bank has become a central, important and good actor on climate," Germany's Flasbarth said.

Malpass had also embraced a greener message in public in recent months. Speaking to POLITICO last week, Malpass tried to get back on message and keep his job.

"It's clear that greenhouse gas emissions from human activity are adding to — are causing — climate change," he said. "And so the task for us, for the world, is to pull together the projects and the funding that actually has an impact."

Asked about his future plans, Malpass responded: “Not resigning.”

Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Michael Jordan to Serve as Analyst for NBA Games
×