Christine Lagarde’s main intention is to remain in her post until the end of her term at the European Central Bank, she told the Wall Street Journal in an interview on Thursday, responding to reports of her possible early departure.
“When I look back over the years, I think we’ve accomplished a lot, I think I’ve accomplished a lot,” she said. “We need to consolidate what has been done and make sure it is really solid and reliable. So my basic scenario is that this is going to take time until the end of my term.”
Her comments come after a Financial Times report that the ECB president is reportedly considering leaving early, ahead of France’s presidential election next year, to give outgoing French President Emmanuel Macron a say in choosing her successor.
According to sources who spoke to Reuters, Lagarde sent a private message to her fellow board members later on Wednesday, reassuring them that she remains committed to her role as head of Europe’s most important financial institution. At the same time, she stressed that if she were to resign, they would hear about it from her and not from the press.
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Lagarde stressed that her mission is to ensure price stability and the financial system, as well as “to protect the euro so that it is stable, strong and ready for Europe’s future.”
Finally, she said the World Economic Forum was “one of the many options” she is considering for the day after she leaves the central bank.
Ask me anything
Explore related questions