Stanley Fischer pushes IMF candidacy in 'WSJ' interview

Stanley Fischer, who this week announced his candidacy for head of the International Monetary Fund, has stumped for the job in the Wall Street Journal.

In an interview printed Sunday, Fischer, current governor of the Bank of Israel and former chief economist at the World Bank, told the WSJ that "without having that [economic] training, it's very hard to know, who's right and who's wrong. You have to have a framework to think through the problems."

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Fischer's candidacy is currently seen as a long-shot behind French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde. Keeping his comments diplomatic, Fischer did not mention Lagarde by name, but added, "There have been great managing directors in the past who weren't politicians." The position of IMF chief, he said, requires "somebody who is respected in every respect, personally and professionally, and who has an ability to work with people and ability to take a stand."

Lagarde and Fischer are joined in the race by a third candidate: Mexican central banker Agustín Carstens, who like Fischer is also a trained economist.

Also on Sunday, Fischer received a surprise endorsement from Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Fayyad, himself a former World Bank economist, said, "Fischer is the most suitable candidate for the job."