Drawing Support from Eastern Europe... EU Presidency Germany, French Votes Are Key
Korea's Yoo Myung-hee, Minister for Trade at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (left), and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, former Nigerian Minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs (right), competing in the final round of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General election. (Image source=Yonhap News)
[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The final runoff election period for Yoo Myung-hee, Director-General for Trade Negotiations at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, who is the first Korean and first woman to challenge for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO), is expected to conclude on the 27th (local time). The current outlook favors Nigeria, as Japan announced the day before that it had solidified its support for Nigeria's Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. However, Director-General Yoo is gathering last-minute support in Europe, the decisive battleground, and there are reports that she has succeeded in splitting votes in Eastern Europe, raising the possibility of a comeback. President Moon Jae-in and Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun are also providing full support.
According to the Ministry of Trade on the 26th, the consultation process among the 163 countries with voting rights and the European Union (EU) member states in the runoff will end on the 27th (local time). If consensus is reached among member countries by the 7th of next month, the final WTO Director-General will be selected. Specific future schedules, including the final results, will be announced after David Walker, Chair of the WTO General Council, consults with member countries.
Director-General Yoo conducted her final election campaign from the 13th to the 23rd in Geneva, Switzerland, where the WTO headquarters is located; Brussels, Belgium, home to the EU headquarters; and London, UK. She personally met with ministers from over 20 countries and more than 100 WTO ambassadors to appeal for support. She emphasized her 'expertise in trade' and 'ability to realize WTO reform.' President Moon and Prime Minister Chung launched 'targeted support fire' for key regions such as the New Northern and New Southern policy countries, Asia, and Latin America, covering both developed and developing countries. Unlike the first and second rounds, the runoff tends to be influenced more by the political judgments of each government than by the individual qualities of the candidates.
Experts say the most critical period is the last week leading up to the runoff deadline on the 27th. The prevailing reaction is that the Korean government has 'done everything it can.' To secure the majority of 83 votes out of 164 total votes, it is crucial to obtain as many votes as possible from the United States and its allies (3 votes from North America, 8 votes from Oceania) as well as developing countries (19 votes from Eastern Europe, 5 votes from Southern Europe, 13 countries in South America, 18 countries in the Caribbean) until the end of the election period.
Meanwhile, it is positive news that Eastern European countries (19 votes) and Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) have expressed last-minute support for Director-General Yoo. The reason Eastern European countries support Yoo is also a variable, stemming from opposition to the opinions of Germany (the rotating chair of the EU) and the European Commission (the executive branch of the EU). It is reported that the voting tendencies of the 27 EU member countries tend to follow the chair country's stance. In other words, if Germany, France, and others shift their votes like Eastern Europe, it could split the votes in Europe (41 votes), which is the stronghold of candidate Okonjo-Iweala.
The government has also emphasized that Director-General Yoo is receiving support 'evenly from around the world.' A Ministry of Trade official said, "Many member countries contacted during this visit agreed that a candidate with proven capabilities who can address pressing WTO issues and induce participation from major countries in discussions is needed, and in this regard, they recognized candidate Yoo as the right person," adding, "It is evaluated that she has secured a broad and balanced support base worldwide, including Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and Africa, ahead of the final runoff conclusion."
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