Ronald Lauder moved to clear the way for a possible run for World Jewish Congress president. On Tuesday, Lauder had his lawyer send a letter to the WJC s American Section warning that the selection of a president must be in accordance with the organization s by-laws. Edgar Bronfman, WJC president for nearly 30 years, resigned earlier this week. The group said it would choose an interim president at its governing board meeting June 10. Lauder’s special assistant, Wayne Kozak, told JTA on Monday that Lauder would not officially enter the race until he was “sure that there is going to be a fair and transparent election.” Lauder, the cosmetics mogul who is president of the Jewish National Fund and a former president of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, is a former WJC treasurer. WJC representatives said Lauder’s letter was discussed Wednesday at the American Section’s governing board meeting. “It will be an open and transparent process,” a WJC spokesman said of the forthcoming elections.
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