European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde has firmly dismissed speculation about an early departure from her position, stating in a Wall Street Journal interview Thursday that she plans to serve her complete term.
The ECB chief’s remarks directly counter reports suggesting she might step down prematurely. “When I look back at all these years, I think that we have accomplished a lot, that I have accomplished a lot,” she said, adding, “We need to consolidate and make sure that this is really solid and reliable. So my baseline is that it will take until the end of my term.”
The clarification follows a Financial Times report Wednesday claiming Lagarde was considering an early exit before France’s upcoming presidential election, potentially allowing departing French President Emmanuel Macron to influence the selection of her replacement.
Following the speculation, Lagarde privately contacted her fellow policymakers Wednesday evening to reaffirm her commitment to leading Europe’s premier financial institution, according to Reuters sources. She assured them they would receive any resignation news directly from her, not through media reports.
In her interview with the Journal, Lagarde described her core responsibilities as maintaining price and financial stability, along with “protecting the euro, making sure that it is solid and strong and fit for the future of Europe.”
Regarding her post-ECB plans, Lagarde mentioned the World Economic Forum as “one of the many options” she’s exploring for her eventual departure from the central bank.
