The IMF short-listed their final candidates for managing director position to French Minister of Finance Christine Lagarde and Agustín Carstens, Governor of the Bank of Mexico.

The IMF disqualified Bank of Israel governor Stanley Fischer because of his age, said the Daily Telegraph. IMF rules state an age limit of 65 for a first-time managing director, but Fisher is 67 years old.

The IMF issued yesterday a statement saying that the Executive Board will consider the candidature of Agustín Carstens and Christine Lagarde without any mention of Fisher.

“The Executive Board will meet with the candidates in Washington DC and, thereafter, meet to discuss the strengths of the candidates and make a selection."

The objective is to complete the selection process for the next managing director by 30 June, 2011, according to the statement

Fisher was the last to announce his intention to run for the post, doing so last-minute before the application deadline for the position closed on Friday, 10 June.

The top IMF job was vacated by Frenchman Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who resigned after his arrest on 14 May on charges of attempting to rape a New York hotel maid.