In an interview with CBS on Sunday, ECB President Christine Lagarde dismissed speculation that she could leave the the central bank before the end of her mandate. Reports had suggested an early departure might serve as political insurance to allow the French president to influence succession. Lagarde responded clearly that her “baseline” plan is to serve until the end of her term.
Lagarde emphasized her focus remains firmly on price stability and financial stability, highlighting that inflation has returned to target while growth, though not strong, is resilient at around 1.5%. She highlighted record-low unemployment across the euro area as evidence that policy normalization has achieved tangible results. However, she cautioned that consolidation is still required to safeguard those gains.
Her remarks aim to reinforce continuity at a time when markets are sensitive to leadership stability within major central banks. By stating “I’m not done,” Lagarde sought to anchor expectations that policy direction at the ECB will remain steady, with no abrupt shift tied to political developments.
