France's Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, 55, has been named the first woman to head the International Monetary¹ Fund (IMF).

现年55岁的法国财政部长克里斯汀·克里斯蒂娜被任命为国际货币基金组织首位女主席。

Christine Lagarde will start her five-year term at the IMF on 5 July
Ms Lagarde fought off（击退，排斥） Mexico's Agustin Carstens for the job, although an IMF statement said that both candidates "were well qualified²".

She received backing from America and Europe and key emerging market nations, including China, India and Brazil.

The post became vacant（空缺的） following the resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

"The results are in: I am honoured and delighted that the board has entrusted³ me with the position of MD of the IMF!" Ms Lagarde said via Twitter minutes after the announcement.

In a statement, the IMF said that its 24-member board regarded both candidates as highly suitable for the job, but had decided⁴ on Ms Lagarde "by consensus⁵".

'Leadership'

Messages of support poured in, with UK Chancellor⁶ of the Exchequer⁷ George Osborne saying he was "delighted" and French President Nicolas Sarkozy calling it "a victory for France".

Mr Carstens said he had sent Ms Lagarde his "best wishes and full support", adding that he hoped she would "make meaningful progress in strengthening the governance of the institution".

US Treasury⁸ Secretary Timothy Geithner said: "Minister Lagarde's exceptional talent and broad experience will provide invaluable⁹ leadership for this indispensable（不可缺少的） institution at a critical time for the global economy."

Although Ms Lagarde is the first woman to become managing director since the IMF was created in 1944, she maintains the tradition that the post is held by a European.

It has been convention that Europe gets the IMF, while an American gets the top job at the World Bank.

Mr Carstens, Mexico's central bank governor, campaigned on a platform that this time the IMF chief should reflect the emergence¹⁰ of developing nations as an economic force.

However, Ms Lagarde toured the world drumming up（招徕，竭力争取） powerful support in the Middle East, Asia and South America.

Her appointment looked effectively sealed on Tuesday when America and Russia came out in her favour.