France's Strauss-Kahn seeks support for IMF candidacy

PARIS (Reuters) - Former French Finance Minister Dominique Strauss-Kahn said on Tuesday he would seek broad backing for his bid to become head of the International Monetary Fund after securing the support of EU finance ministers.

"It's a very important first step. I will now try to convince the other parties concerned," the Socialist heavyweight said in his first statement since French President Nicolas Sarkozy proposed him for the job.

At a meeting in Brussels, European Union finance ministers said they would throw their weight behind Strauss-Kahn, but said that the job, which customarily goes to a European, should be open to all nations after his term ends.

Strauss-Kahn said in his statement that the IMF mission had to be redefined.

"The coming period must be that of an adaptation of the IMF to the new situation created by financial globalisation," he said. "We will in fact have to redefine the missions of the Fund, as well as the respective place of the different partners, notably by giving developing countries the role they deserve."

There is no rule that the IMF managing director must come from Europe. But the position has always gone to a European since the inception of the organisation in 1945, while the United States nominates the head of the World Bank, its sister organisation.

Strauss-Kahn, 58, made his name as Socialist finance minister from 1997 until 1999 when he reduced the public budget deficit to qualify France for the euro and saw economic growth surge.

His candidature represented a diplomatic victory for Sarkozy, who has made a point of reaching out to leftist opponents after his election triumph in May, wrong-footing the defeated Socialist party.

Many Socialists have welcomed the candidature but the party's head, Francois Hollande, has suggested that Sarkozy might be promoting Strauss-Kahn for domestic political reasons rather than for the good of the international community.