Christine Lagarde Rules Out French Presidential Bid, Stresses EU Commitment
Lagarde Addresses French Politics and European Central Bank Policy
Lagarde's Stance on French Presidential Race
FRANKFURT, July 9 (Reuters) - European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde said on Thursday she was not a candidate in the French presidential race but would advocate for pro-European values in her home country "in whichever capacity" she deemed most efficient.
Lagarde was fielding questions about a possible involvement in France's 2027 presidential campaign after saying last week it was possible that she would leave the ECB early to weigh in on French politics.
Commitment to Pro-European Values
"I'm not a candidate for anything, but I'm very keen that Europe is protected, that Europe is the framework within which member states operate, including France," she told the Euronews TV channel.
Asked if she would do that on the campaign trail or in her current role as ECB chief, Lagarde said she "would explain that in whichever capacity I will be most efficient".
Recent Developments in French Politics
The French political scene was jolted this week when far-right leader Marine Le Pen was cleared to run for office by a court despite an embezzlement conviction.
ECB Policy and Economic Outlook
Inflation and Interest Rate Decisions
Lagarde was also asked about the recent rise in euro zone inflation as a result of the Iran war, which led the ECB to raise interest rates for the first time in nearly three years last month.
ECB's Inflation Target and Projections
She said the ECB's medium-term orientation meant it only needed inflation to return to its 2% goal in three years.
"We need to see inflation returning to 2% in about three years' time and that's what we have with the projections that we produce," Lagarde told Euronews.
Market Reactions and Future Outlook
Traders have ramped up their bets on ECB hikes in recent days on signs that an agreement between the U.S. and Iran to end the war is in jeopardy.
(Reporting by Francesco Canepa; Editing by Mark Porter and Jamie Freed)
