Emerging economies are expected to battle hard for the top job at the International Monetary Fund, following the arrest of current head Dominique Strauss-Kahn, analysts say.
That could pit the fast-growing markets of Asia and Latin America against Europe.
Developing countries are seeking more influence on the world stage as their economic clout increases.
Mr Strauss-Kahn has been charged with attempted rape in New York.
European officials, however, say the debt problems in the region mean any replacement should come from Europe.
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.
"There is growing disquiet, particularly among emerging nations, about this division of roles," said Jan Randolph, head of sovereign risk analysis at IHS Global Insight.
He says China could use its influence to support an emerging market candidate for the top IMF job.
"China is the biggest new IMF bondholder. Its huge financial contribution in 2008 effectively tripled the size of the IMF's lending power during the financial crisis."
That financial might is coming into focus as developing countries start taking a larger share of the global economy.
Possible successor
Although Mr Strauss-Kahn has not officially resigned, most analysts expect that he will do so.
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.
Singapore's finance minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, former South African finance minister Trevor Manuel and Kemal Dervis, Turkey's former minister of economic affairs are possible successor, according to former IMF official Eswar Prasad.
The highest profile European candidate for the job is France's finance minister Christine Lagarde, according to the Financial Times.
Reuters news agency has compiled its own list of names which also include Montek Singh Ahluwalia of India and Agustin Carstens of Mexico.
Pressure is mounting on Dominique Strauss-Kahn to step down as head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Austrian finance minister Maria Fekter called on him to consider his position.
Meanwhile, her Spanish counterpart, Elana Salgado, gave her support for the victim of his alleged sexual assault.
Mr Strauss-Kahn has been remanded in custody at New York's notorious Rikers Island jail, following his arrest on Saturday for the attempted rape of a hotel maid.
He was arrested after boarding a plane, prompting the judge to say that Mr Strauss-Kahn, 62, was a flight risk.
He faces seven charges and could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.
Mr Strauss-Kahn, who had been seen as a favourite in France's 2012 presidential elections, denies the charges.
The defence offered to post $1m (£617,000) bail, with Mr Strauss-Kahn to stay at his daughter's address in New York until the next hearing on Friday. However, Judge Melissa Jackson rejected the application.
'Very serious accusations'
"I don't comment on judicial matters," said Ms Fekter. "But in view of the situation, that bail has been refused, he himself must deliberate on whether he is hurting the institution."
The Spanish finance minister added her voice, saying that the IMF head faced "very serious accusations" but that any resignation "is only a decision that Mr Strauss-Kahn can take".
However, she went on to express sympathy for the alleged victim of the assault: "If I had to show my solidarity and support for someone, it would be towards the woman who has been assaulted, if that is really the case that she has been."
Ms Fekter's comments touched on concerns that, irrespective of the legal outcome, Mr Strauss-Kahn's detention creates a practical obstacle for his role in negotiating rescue loans for Portugal and Greece.
Mr Strauss-Kahn had been due to attend an EU finance ministers' meeting in Brussels to discuss financial bail-outs.
The IMF has played a central role in organising rescue packages for the troubled economies of Portugal and Greece.
However, according to the Portuguese finance minister, Fernando Teixeira dos Santos, the IMF head's absence had not been an issue.
Mr Strauss-Kahn received support from the Luxembourg prime minister and eurogroup head, Jean-Claude Juncker, a self-professed close friend.
"I'm very sad and upset," he said. "I didn't like the pictures I've seen on television."
French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde described Mr Strauss-Kahn's predicament as "crushing and painful".
Flight halted
The IMF said in a statement that it had been briefed on the charges against its managing director, and that it would "continue to monitor developments".
The charges relate to an alleged assault at the Times Square Sofitel hotel in New York.
Writer Tristane Banon alleges Mr Strauss-Kahn assaulted her in 2002
According to the New York Police Department, a 32-year-old maid told officers that when she entered his suite on Saturday afternoon, Mr Strauss-Kahn emerged from the bathroom naked, chased her and sexually assaulted her.
The woman was able to break free and alert the authorities, a NYPD spokesman added.
Later on Saturday, Mr Strauss-Kahn was detained on board an Air France flight at New York's John F Kennedy airport minutes before take-off.
The IMF chief underwent medical examinations on Sunday. Police were looking for scratches or any other evidence of his alleged assault.
He was later charged with a "criminal sexual act, unlawful imprisonment and attempted rape". Police say the maid formally identified him in a line-up.
'Thunderbolt'
Until he was arrested, Mr Strauss-Kahn was considered a favourite to become the Socialist candidate for the French presidency next year.
Opinion polls gave him a good chance of defeating President Nicolas Sarkozy.
Socialist party president Martine Aubry described his arrest as a "thunderbolt" but called for Mr Strauss-Kahn to be presumed innocent.
Mr Strauss-Kahn's wife, French TV personality Anne Sinclair, has also protested his innocence.
Meanwhile, another allegation against Mr Strauss-Kahn has emerged. A French writer says she may file a complaint for an alleged sexual assault in 2002.
Tristane Banon, 31, says Mr Strauss-Kahn tried to rape her when she went to interview him for a book she was writing.
"We're planning to make a complaint," Ms Banon's lawyer told AFP news agency. Mr Strauss-Kahn's lawyers have so far not responded to the allegation.
WASHINGTON May 16 - The White House remains confident in the International Monetary Fund and its ability to execute its mission in the wake of the arrest of IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a spokesman said on Monday.
"We note that the IMF has said that they have appointed an acting director and the IMF remains fully functional. And we remain confident in the institution of the IMF and its ability to continue to execute its mission effectively," White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters traveling to Tennessee on Air Force One with President Barack Obama.
Asked if Washington had any concern that Strauss-Kahn's arrest would have any effect on its handling of some European countries' debt problems, Carney repeated: "We're confident that the IMF will continue to function effectively."
Strauss-Kahn appeared in court in New York on Monday for the first time since he was accused of trying to rape a hotel maid in a case that has sent shockwaves through French politics and left the IMF in turmoil.
His lawyers said he would plead not guilt to charges of a criminal sexual act, attempted rape and unlawful imprisonment.
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Dominique Strauss-Kahn, 62, was arrested on Saturday after boarding a plane 
