FT社評 拉加德理應留任IMF總裁

Yet again, the International Monetary Fund finds itself contemplating the conviction of its managing director.

國際貨幣基金組織(IMF)發現自己又要面對總裁被定罪的一幕。

A French tribunal’s verdict that Christine Lagarde was guilty of negligence in office while she was the French finance minister is not remotely comparable to the scandal that brought down her predecessor, Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

法國一個特別法庭判定，克里斯蒂娜.拉加德(Christine Lagarde)在擔任法國財長期間玩忽職守。

Yet it is an embarrassment and a blow to her previously unblemished reputation for managerial competence.

上述裁定雖然絲毫不可與令其前任多米尼克.斯特勞斯-卡恩(Dominique Strauss-Kahn)下臺的醜聞相提並論，但仍會令她尷尬，對她此前在管理能力方面的無暇聲譽是一次打擊。

It also presents a difficult decision for the IMF’s directors, who must ensure there is no taint on the leadership of an organisation that already struggles to convince a sceptical public that it is a force for good in the world.

上述裁定還使IMF董事會面臨一次艱難抉擇，他們必須確保IMF領導層的聲譽沒有受到損害，況且該組織已然難以說服持懷疑態度的公衆相信其是一股對世界有益的力量。

Ms Lagarde should make her case to the board and convince them that she is guilty of no more than political naivety.

拉加德應在董事會面前爲自己辯護，並讓他們相信，她犯的不過是政治幼稚之過。

On the face of it, her case has merit.

從表面上看，該判決有一定的合理性。

The charges against her related to a fraudulent EURO403m payment awarded by arbitrators to the businessman Bernard Tapie in 2008, shortly after Nicolas Sarkozy became president.

對她的指控與2008年由仲裁機構判給商人貝爾納.塔皮(Bernard Tapie)的一筆4.03億歐元的不當賠償有關——這筆賠償發生在尼古拉.薩科齊(Nicolas Sarkozy)就任法國總統後不久。

The trial showed how the conditions for a settlement with the colourful Mr Tapie, who backed Mr Sarkozy’s campaign, fell into place soon after his election.

法庭審理顯示出，與行爲張揚的塔皮達成和解的條件是如何在其支持的薩科齊勝選後不久得到滿足的。

Any hint of collusion in a seedy deal to pay off a supporter would be damning.

只要有一點點證據證明，存在共謀的骯髒交易以回報薩科齊的支持者，都足以定罪。

However, there is no suggestion that Ms Lagarde knew of any such deal.

然而，沒有跡象表明拉加德知曉任何此類交易。

Instead, the tribunal has endorsed her decision to send Mr Tapie’s compensation claim against the state to arbitration.

相反，上述法庭贊同她把塔皮針對政府的賠償要求提交仲裁的決定。

It found her guilty of negligence because she did not appeal against the eventual decision — but it has not imposed any sentence, and the verdict will not result in a criminal record.

法庭認爲她玩忽職守，是因爲她沒有對最後的裁定提出上訴，但法庭並未對其判刑，該判決也不會留下犯罪記錄。

Short of full exoneration, this is the mildest possible verdict.

這已經是除完全免罪以外最輕的判決了。

This is an unusual verdict from an unusual court.

這是一個不尋常的法庭作出的不尋常判決。

Politicians who sit on the special tribunal may well have wished to avoid a tougher ruling that would have deterred ministers from making delicate decisions in future.

坐於上述特別法庭的政客們很可能希望避免作出可能使得部長們未來不敢作出敏感決定的更嚴厲裁定。

They will also have been conscious of the implications for Ms Lagarde’s continued tenure at the IMF — she is, after all, by far the most powerful French figure on the international stage.

他們肯定也明白判決對拉加德繼續留任IMF總裁的影響——畢竟，她是國際舞臺上最有影響的法國人，其影響力遠遠超過其他所有法國人。

The IMF’s directors — set to discuss the verdict on Monday — must weigh the risk of reputational damage if she remains in office against the disruption ensuing from a change at the top.

週一對該判決進行討論的IMF董事會必須權衡這兩點：一是如果拉加德留任，可能對IMF帶來的聲譽受損的風險；二是IMF總裁換人帶來的混亂。

It is incumbent on Ms Lagarde to convince her colleagues that there is no question of any stain on her personal integrity.

拉加德有責任說服她的同僚們相信，她的個人誠信毫無疑問沒有任何污點。

Beyond that, there is nothing in the IMF’s rule book to disqualify her.

除此之外，IMF規章中沒有任何條款可以讓她失去任職資格。

A conviction for negligence is somewhat at odds with a commitment to the highest standards of efficiency and technical competence.

瀆職罪判決在某種程度上有悖於對儘可能提高效率和技術稱職度的承諾。