Lagarde reiterates she will leave the European Central Bank in 2027 but declines to give an exact date.

Christine Lagarde has reiterated that she will leave the European Central Bank in 2027 but declined to say whether she will stay until her term ends in October of that year. I will leave in 2027, Lagarde said on Friday. Asked whether that meant October, she said: Well see. What I can say now is that whenever it is, it will be handled in the most professional way, as it should be, Lagarde said. In July, she told reporters that you will not see me leave before 2027. Last week, she said: When there is something to report about me personally, you will be the first to know, adding that there is nothing to report at the moment. Lagarde recently revealed she will publish a memoir in January, fuelling market expectations that she will leave the ECB early. Reports say the World Economic Forum, known for its Davos annual meeting, is still courting her to take over, and she appears ready to accept the role. A Lagarde departure would open up one of the most powerful positions in global central banking, with former central bank governors from the Netherlands and Spain among those vying for the role. In Dublin on Friday, Spanish economy minister Carlos Cuerpo said it was time to start discussing the ECB after Lagarde. It is up to her whether to complete her term, and whatever she chooses, we will support her, he said. In any case, these discussions need to take place, or must start to take place, because it is not just the governors position, there are more vacancies, and we need to have these discussions. Lagarde said it was crucial to find the right mix for the ECBs key decision-making bodies. The terms of chief economist Philip Lane and executive board member Isabel Schnabel also end next year. What matters is the skill set around the table of the executive board and the governing council, and having diversity of views is actually helpful, she said. Diversity of views because you have men and women; diversity of views because you have economists with central bank experience and others with different backgrounds, and I think that is helpful.