France Seeks Input on Euro Pact

Minister Declares 'There Is No Diktat,' Says Nationality Isn't Key to ECB Pick

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BY NATHALIE BOSCHAT, WILLIAM HOROBIN AND DAVID GAUTHIER-VILLARS

PARIS—French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde on Tuesday urged euro-zone members to stop criticizing a Franco-German pact aimed at boosting the competitiveness of the 17-nation currency bloc, and instead to make contributions to it.

In an interview, Ms. Lagarde also entered the fray over who will be chosen as the next president of the European Central Bank, saying Jean-Claude Trichet's successor would be chosen on the basis of competence, rather than passport.

"It is not a question of nationality, but one of determination to apply a firm policy in terms of price stability," Ms. Lagarde said, referring to the bank's mandate ...

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