European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said on Friday 18 September 2026 that she would leave the ECB in 2027, but declined to say whether she would remain in post until her term expires in October that year.
Asked in an interview with Irish national broadcaster RTÉ in Dublin whether she intended to resign early, Lagarde said: “I leave in 2027.” Pressed on whether that meant October 2027, she replied: “We’ll see.”
“What I can tell you at this point is that whatever the time, it will be handled in the most professional way as it should be,” she said.
TERM RUNS TO OCTOBER 2027
Lagarde took office in November 2019 for a single eight-year term, which cannot be renewed and ends in October 2027. Her comments leave open the possibility of an earlier exit, which has been the subject of repeated reports during 2026, though she gave no indication of when during the year she expected to step down.
In February, the Financial Times reported that Lagarde planned to leave the ECB before the end of French President Emmanuel Macron’s term. In early July, she said she could not rule out an early departure to take part in French politics ahead of the country’s 2027 presidential election.
SUCCESSION TALKS
European governments have begun discussing who should succeed her, with the Financial Times reporting on 13 September that capitals were bargaining over the post. The ECB president is appointed by the European Council. Lagarde’s latest remarks did not set a date for her departure, leaving the timing of any handover unresolved.