PARIS, July 7 (Xinhua) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy backed Dominique Strauss-Kahn, a former finance minister from the opposition Socialist Party, to head the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said local newspaper Journal du Dimanche on Saturday.

    Strauss-Kahn "seems the most fit for the post," said the president in an interview with the newspaper.

    Noting the former minister shares the same version of the IMF function, Sarkozy said Strauss-Kahn owns the qualities required by the post such as strong credibility, incontestable experience and multilingualism.

    Strauss-Kahn has yet to express his interest in the post.

    Current IMF Managing Director Rodrigo Rato Figaredo, a Spaniard, last week gave a surprise announcement, saying he would resign in October to spend more time with his family, two years before the due expiration of his mandate.

    Traditionally, a European has served as the IMF chief and an American as the World Bank president.

    The IMF executive board is scheduled to meet on Monday to discuss the selection of the new IMF leader.

    Sarkozy is expected to discuss the issue with European financial ministers in Brussels on Monday when he exceptionally joins the latter for their monthly meeting.