The head of the European Central Bank may be planning an early departure from her position, according to a Wednesday report from the Financial Times.
Christine Lagarde is reportedly considering stepping down before her eight-year appointment concludes in October 2027, the newspaper stated, referencing someone with knowledge of her plans.
According to the Financial Times, Lagarde aims to depart prior to France’s presidential election scheduled for April of next year. Her goal would be to give current French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz the opportunity to select her successor.
Macron will be unable to seek reelection in 2027 due to constitutional limits after completing two consecutive terms in office.
Reuters has not been able to confirm this information independently. The European Central Bank has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.
This news emerges just one week following an announcement from Bank of France Governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau that he plans to resign in June, cutting his tenure short by over a year. His early departure would enable Macron to appoint a replacement before the 2027 presidential race, which far-right candidates could potentially win.
The Financial Times had previously reported on Lagarde’s possible early exit in May 2025, indicating the banking leader had discussed leaving her post to take charge of the World Economic Forum.
At that time, the European Central Bank stated that Lagarde remained committed to serving her complete eight-year presidency.
Lagarde’s position at the ECB is scheduled to end on October 31, 2027, and cannot be renewed. Before taking the helm at the European Central Bank, she served as the International Monetary Fund’s managing director from 2011 through 2019, and previously held the role of France’s finance minister.
