Lagarde to leave ECB February 7, 2027 so Macron picks successor before Le Pen

Christine Lagarde announced her resignation as head of the European Central Bank effective February 7, 2027. German media note the timing is no accident — it enables President Emmanuel Macron to help choose a successor before France elects a new president, potentially Marine Le Pen. Lagarde's decision could matter significantly for the future of monetary policy in the eurozone.