Feb 21, 2026
3 min read
The president of the European Central Bank says her "starting point" is to serve until October 2027.
Lagarde espera agotar su mandato en el BCE ante el debate sobre su salida anticipada
The President of the European Central Bank confirms that her “starting point” is a term until October 2027.
Christine Lagarde stays.Or at least, that remains his intention for the time being.The head of the European Central Bank addressed the controversy surrounding her possible early departure in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.In it, the Frenchman confirms that her goal is to finish her term, which ends in October 2027, when she will complete eight years at the helm of the institution.He points out to the American newspaper: "When I look back over all these years, I think we have achieved a lot."He adds: "We need to strengthen this and make sure that it is really strong and reliable. So the starting point for "My message is that this will continue until the end of my term."
The Financial Times has speculated on the possibility of Lagarde's departure earlier this week.The idea behind this step, in principle, is to allow French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to participate in the election of his replacement before the French presidential election in April 2027, in which Macron will not run.Ways to prevent the right and Marine Le Pen's party, which leads the opinion polls, to speak in favor of a soft position.
With his statement, Lagarde reduces the options for these speculations, which have triggered a movement among the candidates to replace him, with the Spaniard Pablo Hernández de Cos among the best.The Financial Times message prompted a quick response from Spain's Ministry of Economy, which stressed that it will "work hard to ensure that it has a crucial and significant position" in the European bank.
The ECB president said in the interview that his mission as head of the Community institution is to promote financial stability and price stability and "to protect the euro and ensure that it is strong, strong and fit for the future of Europe."With the end of the ECB chief's term at the presidency of the World Economic Forum, Lagarde assured that it was "one of many options" on the table.ECB sources insisted this week that "President Lagarde is fully focused on her mission and has not made a decision on the end of her mandate."
Talk of an early farewell gained momentum after Bank of France governor Francois Villeroy de Galhau announced he would leave his post in early June.A replacement that could also accelerate two other positions at the ECB: that of the chief economist, Philipp Lane, and Isabelle Schnabel, a member of the executive committee.Both terms will expire in 2027.
A list of possible candidates for the president of the European Central Bank is on the table, in addition to the Spaniard Hernández de Cos, former head of the Bank of Spain and current head of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS).Favorites include Dutch Klaas Nott;German Joachim Nagel;Isabelle Schnabel and Jörg Kukis. European Central Bank Vice President Luis de Guindos admitted on Thursday that he was "very optimistic" about the Spaniard's candidacy.Hernández de Cos was "a very good governor of the Bank of Spain."
Speculation that Lagarde's term will end comes at a time when far-right parties are making strong inroads into the EU, forcing centre-right and centre-right governments to defend institutions.In France's case, the April 2027 presidential election means that Macron will leave the Elysee Palace after the two terms allowed and take on far-right candidate Jordan Bardela (Marine Le Pen's successor as National Reconciliation candidate).Asked about possible political interference in the ECB's independence, Lagarde defended herself by saying, "The ECB is a very respected and credible institution and I hope I can join it."
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