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France's Finance Chief to Play Key Summit Role

French finance minister takes center stage at G20 summit

By Jason Farago, Newser Staff

Posted Nov 14, 2008 7:38 AM CST

(Newser) – This weekend's emergency G20 summit will bring together world leaders with very different ideas of how to fix the global economy. But while heads of state and government talk in front of the cameras, one woman will be key in building a consensus: Christine Lagarde, the French finance minister. After years in Chicago at the top of a major law firm, Lagarde brings an American-style candor to the rarefied world of European diplomacy.

With her fluent English and championing of free trade and the private sector, Lagarde has been tagged with the epithet "the American" even more than her boss, French president Nicolas Sarkozy. With the Washington delegation led by lame ducks, France is pushing hard for much tougher regulation. And her male colleagues admit that being the only woman in the room has given her an advantage; as the billionaire Lakshmi Mittal said, "She has been able to break the mold."

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, left, and Finance Minister Christine Lagarde attend a meeting with local entrepreneurs in Annecy, French Alps, Thursday Oct. 23, 2008. (AP Photo)

President Bush pauses as he makes a statement on the financial crisis, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. Listening are Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde arrives Monday, Oct. 13, 2008 at the Elysee palace in Paris for an extraordinary Cabinet meeting. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

France's Finance Minister Christine Lagarde delivers a speech during a meeting with French and Brazilian business executives in Sao Paulo, Monday, Nov. 10, 2008. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)

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France's Finance Chief to Play Key Summit Role

French finance minister takes center stage at G20 summit

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Sarkozy Seeking 5 More Years

Rival shrugs as president officially launches bid

Sarkozy Unveils 'Robin Hood' Tax

Financial transactions to be taxed starting this summer

France Toughens Citizenship Gauntlet

Now citizens must pass test of language, 'values'

France's Woman of Year: DSK Wife

Poll finds Anne Sinclair more popular than husband's successor at IMF

Snub? Sarkozy, Cameron Have Handshake Fail

Even body language is under scrutiny at euro summit

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Nicolas Sarkozy • France • crisis summit • Christine Lagarde • G20

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Sarkozy Seeking 5 More Years

Rival shrugs as president officially launches bid

Sarkozy Unveils 'Robin Hood' Tax

Financial transactions to be taxed starting this summer

France Toughens Citizenship Gauntlet

Now citizens must pass test of language, 'values'

France's Woman of Year: DSK Wife

Poll finds Anne Sinclair more popular than husband's successor at IMF

Snub? Sarkozy, Cameron Have Handshake Fail

Even body language is under scrutiny at euro summit

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?