Italy says it has no candidate for ECB chief, calls for clarity over Lagarde

Italy Urges Clarity Over Lagarde as ECB President, No Italian Candidate Put Forward

Italy Seeks Answers Amid ECB Leadership Speculation

Rumours Surrounding Christine Lagarde's Tenure

ROME, Oct 3 (Reuters) - Italy is seeking clarity over rumours about European Central Bank (ECB) President Christine Lagarde possibly leaving her post early, Economy Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Friday.

"I can't get inside President Lagarde's head, but I do think it's important to clarify this matter," Giorgetti told reporters during a press conference on the Treasury's new budget plan.

Italy's Position on the ECB Presidency

No Italian Candidate for ECB President

He also said Rome at present had no candidate to promote for the top ECB job.

Lagarde is due to officially depart by October of next year, although she is subject of persistent ​resignation rumours.

Other European Contenders

Spain is lobbying for Bank for International Settlements General Manager Pablo Hernandez de Cos to become the next ECB ​president, while the Netherlands is pushing for Klaas Knot, its former central bank chief.

Italy's Recent Successes and Alliances

Carlo Comporti's Appointment to ESMA

"At the moment, there is no Italian candidate for the ECB, given that Italy has already achieved a major economic and diplomatic success with Carlo Comporti, the new president of ESMA, who will take office in the next few weeks," Giorgetti said.

About ESMA

ESMA is ​an independent ​EU ⁠agency based in Paris that acts as ​the EU's financial markets ​watchdog.

Potential Support for Spanish Candidate

Asking not to be named, an Italian official told Reuters Rome might support the Spanish candidate, given Spain’s backing of Comporti.

Decision-Making Within Italy's Government

However, the official said the debate within the right-wing ruling coalition was quite premature, and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni would have the last say on the matter.

(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte and Giselda Vagnoni, editing by Gavin Jones and Crispian Balmer)