Finance
ECB’s Cipollone has no indication President Lagarde plans early resignation
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 18, 2026
1 min readLast updated: February 18, 2026
Quick Summary
ECB's Cipollone denies rumors of President Lagarde's early resignation amid speculation of French election influence on her successor.
ECB’s Cipollone has no indication President Lagarde plans early resignation
Lagarde's Tenure and Future Speculations
By Giuseppe Fonte
Cipollone's Statement on Lagarde
ROME, Feb 18 (Reuters) - European Central Bank Executive Board Member Piero Cipollone said on Wednesday he had “no news” about ECB President Christine Lagarde resigning before the end of her term.
Concerns Over Future Leadership
On Wednesday the Financial Times reported that Lagarde plans to leave her job early, ahead of next year's French presidential election, to give outgoing French leader Emmanuel Macron an input into picking her successor.
Her term is due to end in October 2027 but some fear that the far right may win the French presidential race in the spring of 2027, complicating the selection for the new chief of Europe's top financial institution.
At the end of a meeting of Italy’s banking association, ABI, in Rome, Cipollone added that Lagarde was “in full control of the central bank and is always guiding us with the necessary strength and energy.”
(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte in Rome, editing by Giulia Segreti and Giselda Vagnoni)
Key Takeaways
- •Cipollone denies rumors of Lagarde's early resignation.
- •Lagarde's term ends in October 2027.
- •Speculation ties resignation to French elections.
- •Concerns over far-right influence in France.
- •Lagarde remains in control of ECB operations.
Frequently Asked Questions about ECB’s Cipollone has no indication President Lagarde plans early resignation
1What is the European Central Bank?
The European Central Bank (ECB) is the central bank for the eurozone, responsible for monetary policy and maintaining price stability within the Euro area.
2What is monetary policy?
Monetary policy refers to the actions taken by a central bank to control the money supply and interest rates to achieve macroeconomic objectives such as controlling inflation and stabilizing currency.
3What is a central bank?
A central bank is a financial institution that manages a country's currency, money supply, and interest rates, overseeing the banking system and implementing monetary policy.
