Dominique Strauss Kahn

Iran’s bazaaris take this week’s third place, having forced President Mahmoud Ahmadi-Nejad to order the suspension until further notice of the value-added tax (VAT) introduced two weeks ago as part of the government's attempts to diversify its revenue base.  A strike last Saturday in protest at the new tax by jewellers in the Isfahan bazaar snowballed into general strikes in bazaars across the country.  Iran's bazaar class is a historic power centre thanks to its enormous wealth and influence on the street. Discontent among the bazaaris, one of the pillars of the conservative establishment, will also create opportunities for Ahmadi-Nejad's rivals within the conservative camp in the run-up to the presidential elections next June.

In second place, former Lithuanian television presenter Arunas Valinskas. In parliamentry elections this week, Valinskas’s political party National Resurrection came second to the main centre-right opposition Homeland Union.  Valinskas -- who hosted a Lithuanian version of the televison show ‘Pop Idol’ -- only formed the National Resurrection party in August.   Campaiging in protest against the corruption and inefficacy of the political elite,  National Ressurection was one of several new parties to have performed well in the election.  National Resurrection looks set to enter into coalition with the Homeland Union and with 15% of the vote Valinskas may may hold the balance in forming the new government.

In first place, International Monetary Fund Director Dominique Strauss Kahn who has moved quickly to capitalise upon the global banking crisis.  Economic prosperity in recent years, along with more prudent macroeconomic policies in many emerging and developing countries, has reduced considerably the number of countries seeking IMF loans. As the quantity of outstanding IMF credit has dwindled, the institution's importance and legitimacy have been called into question.   This week, Kahn moved to address this situation by making some 200 billion dollars availiable to both developed and developing countries.  While no country has, as yet, officially requested a loan, the financial turmoil forcing a growing number of countries to consider a loan.   The growing list of potential candidates is topped by Iceland but also includes Hungary, Turkey and Ukraine.

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