Mathias Cormann elected next secretary-general of OECD

Former Finance Minister Mathias Cormann has been elected as secretary-general of the OECD in a “stunning diplomatic coup”.

Mathias Cormann has been elected the next secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The former Australian finance minister was on Friday named the winner, according to reports, beating nine other candidates in a battle that came down to the wire as he went head-to-head with former European Union trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom.

His bid for the influential job has been deeply controversial, with environmental groups and activists banding together to stop him.

The Australian described it as a “stunning diplomatic coup” with the win coming after lobbying from Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

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Former Australia finance minister Mathias Cormann will be the next head of the OECD. Picture by Sean Davey.

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The former Liberal Party member, who made his exit from Parliament late last year, will be the Asia-Pacific region’s first head of the Paris-based economic organisation, which represents 37 member countries.

Mr Cormann’s achievement comes after a failed effort to elect the OECD’s first female secretary-general. The Australian reports that Mr Morrison called more than 50 world leaders in the past few moths in a push to ensure the nation’s longest-serving finance minister was elected to the post.

He will replace Angel Gurria of Mexico, with his five-year term beginning on June 1.

Climate author Ketan Joshi called it “a permanent dark stain” on the organisation, “and a pretty damn clear statement about their hostility towards climate action and their total support for harmful fossil fuel industries.”

Gerald Butts, vice chairman at geopolitical risk firm Eurasia Group, said the OECD could have chosen leaders who implemented climate policies and carbon prices, calling the move, “Deeply misguided and out of step with the times.”

Doug Cameron, former Labor Senator for NSW and head of the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union, said: “Having served with him in the Senate for 11 years I cannot believe that his opposition to climate action, support for trickle down economics and anti union ideology is rewarded by appointment to this role.”

But Liberal MP Dave Sharma described it as an “excellent result” on Twitter, saying Mr Cormann would be “a great asset for the @OECD at a critical time”.

Former Western Australian MP Ben Wyatt said it was “fantastic to see an Australian - a Western Australian - take on this significant global role!”

Victorian Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson congratulated Mr Cormann, adding, “A great credit to you and a wonderful honour for Australia.”

More to come