Lagarde considers early ECB exit to run in France's 2027 presidential election

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PARIS — European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said she could leave her post before the end of her term to take part in France’s 2027 presidential election.

Asked in an interview with French daily Les Echos published Thursday if she could step down early to “play a role” in the vote next year, the former French economy minister said it was “possible.”

“A European voice must be heard in the presidential debate,” she said.

Lagarde did not say what role she would seek if she returned to French politics, however. And she added that whatever decision she takes would depend on the stability of the European economy.

“Given that we are once again going through a turbulent period, I believe the captain of the ECB ship must stay on board,” she told Les Echos.

Lagarde’s term leading the ECB runs until October 2027, about six months after the presidential contest. Speculation about her future has been rife since the Financial Times reported in February that she was planning to leave early to allow French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to help pick her successor.

The 70-year-old European central bank chief told the Wall Street Journal a few days later that she planned to see out her term.

In her interview with Les Echos, Lagarde said that if she were to resign, it would be to debate Euroskeptic voices, such as those of the far-right National Rally.

“If it looked like there were prospects of a diminished French role in Europe, I think it’s important to explain why that would be a painful path for our country and our citizens,” she said.

Opinion polls suggest that Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella are the current favorites in the presidential race. But the National Rally cannot finalize its candidate until after Tuesday , when an appeals court delivers its verdict on an embezzlement case that knocked Le Pen out of the election.

Marion Solletty contributed reporting.