‘I’m not a candidate for anything’: What Lagarde told Euronews before quitting the ECB

Photo - Copyright AP Photo Copyright AP Photo Published on 29 October 2026 - 15:21 GMT+1•Updated 15:57 Christine Lagarde told Euronews in an exclusive interview in July that she was not a candidate for any political office. Her announcement that she will leave the European Central Bank early, in February 2027, comes just months before France’s presidential election. Christine Lagarde announced on Thursday that she will step down as European Central Bank president on 7 February 2027, nearly nine months before her mandate is due to end. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT In an exclusive interview with Euronews in July, she said she was not seeking political office, as speculation mounted over her possible role in France’s 2027 presidential election. “I’m not a candidate for anything, but I’m very keen that Europe is protected, that Europe is the framework within which member states operate, including France,” she said. Lagarde also said she hoped reason would prevail ahead of the vote scheduled for April 2027, stressing France’s importance within the European Union. Before leading the ECB, and the IMF before that, Lagarde served as French finance minister under former president Nicolas Sarkozy, becoming the first woman to hold the post in a G7 country and guiding France through the 2008 financial crisis. Go to accessibility shortcuts Read more