Analysts are predicting a global fight for the post of Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
With the resignation of Dominique Strauss-Kahn they say emerging economies are expected to battle hard for a chance at a louder voice on the global stage.
That could pit fast-growing markets of Asia and Latin America against Europe.
However, European officials say the debt problems in the region mean any replacement should come from Europe.
South Africa's finance minister has called for someone from a developing country to be given the opportunity to run the IMF.
The current structure for leadership at the IMF and the World Bank is one where the former is headed by a European and the latter by an American.
John Lipsky, who was named as the IMF's acting managing director, has already said he will step down in August, when his term ends.
Names of potential candidates for the top job are already being bandied about.
They include Singapore's Finance Minister, Tharman Shanmugaratnam; Trevor Manuel, the former South African Finance Minister; and Kemal Dervis, Turkey's former Minister of Economic Affairs.
The highest-profile potential candidate for the job is Christine Lagarde, the Finance Minister of France.
The managing director of the IMF is confirmed by its executive directors, who in turn are appointed or elected by member countries.
Some analysts suggest the process of selecting who is picked for the top job needs to be more transparent.
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