French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde has been chosen to lead the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The United States has stated its support for Lagarde, effectively ensuring her selection for the IMF post recently vacated by Dominique Strauss-Kahn, who was arrested on charges of sexual assault in New York City.

Lagarde will be the first woman to head the IMF, but the latest in a long string of Europeans to lead the organization.  A number of governments around the world had expressed support for a non-European leader to take up the post, but the United States finally supported European nations’ bid to maintain control of the organization.

The Washington Post reports on Lagarde’s selection.