Overview
- The ECB announced on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026, that Christine Lagarde will resign and leave office on Feb. 7, 2027.
- Her departure is nine months before her term was due to end in October 2027 and starts the formal process for EU leaders to pick a successor.
- The timing is widely seen as politically driven to allow pro‑EU actors, including French President Emmanuel Macron, to help shape the replacement ahead of next year’s vote.
- The announcement came on the day the ECB was set to publish an interest‑rate decision and hold Lagarde’s regular press conference, raising questions about policy continuity and market reaction.
- Lagarde is the former IMF head and has led the ECB since 2011, and reporting has noted speculation about high‑profile roles after she leaves, such as at the World Economic Forum.