Lagarde said to weigh quitting ECB before her term ends

[European Central Bank Press Conference Following Governing Council Meeting]
Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images News

European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde is weighing stepping down from her role before the end of her term in October 2027, the _Financial Times _reported, citing a person familiar with her thinking.

Lagarde reportedly wants to exit the ECB before the French presidential election in April 2027, although it's unclear when she will leave.

The ECB chief wants outgoing French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to decide on her successor, the person with knowledge of her thinking told [https://www.ft.com/content/30bcb221-700e-4643-9ed5-dd9432c5be7c] _FT_.

"President Lagarde is totally focused on her mission and has not taken any decision regarding the end of her term," a spokesperson for the ECB said.

Pablo Hernández de Cos and Klaas Knot, former heads of the Spanish and Dutch central banks, respectively, were viewed as top picks to succeed Lagarde, according to an _FT _poll [https://www.ft.com/content/be88bc07-9326-4757-9919-bec4b3058ebb] of European economists in December.

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