Christine Lagarde. Photo: Anton Chalakov / Shutterstock.com Christine Lagarde has announced that she will step down as president of the European Central Bank on February 7, 2027, bringing her tenure at the institution to an end after more than seven years.
In a statement published on October 29, Lagarde said she had informed her colleagues of the decision and thanked those who had supported her during her time at the ECB.
“It has been a source of great pride to serve this institution,” she wrote.
In a video accompanying the announcement, Lagarde described the role as a privilege and said she was leaving with a sense of having done good work. She highlighted the ECB's mission of maintaining price stability and financial stability in Europe.
Her departure comes ahead of the scheduled end of her eight-year term in October 2027.
The ECB confirmed that the process to appoint her successor will begin immediately. European Council President António Costa thanked Lagarde for her leadership since November 2019, citing the challenges of the pandemic, energy crises and inflation.
Lagarde also addressed a separate topic on social media, explaining that the plasters visible on her face were due to a minor surgery earlier in the week. She encouraged people to follow medical advice and get their skin checked regularly.