Speculation about a departure has swirled around Lagarde for some time, but increased after Bank of France chief Francois Villeroy de Galhau, who also sits on the ECB’s Governing Council, recently announced his early exit
The ECB's response is a departure from earlier guidance on Lagarde. Last year, when the FT suggested she may leave early, the ECB said Lagarde was "determined to complete her term."
Central banker Christine Lagarde needs to point to a steady unwinding of restrictive interest rates
European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde holds press conference to discuss monetary policy and answer questions
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde Speaks At The 2023 Conference On Monetary Policy
ECB President Christine Lagarde explains the Governing Council's monetary policy decisions and will answer questions from journalists at the Governing Council press conference to be held on 14 September 2023 at 14:45 CET in Frankfurt am Main.
Christine Lagarde said in the medium-term a combination of higher investment needs and greater supply constraints is likely to lead to stronger price pressures
"We are deliberately data dependent, we have an open mind as to what the decisions will be in September and in subsequent meetings," she told a press conference after the ECB implemented its latest rate hike.
The central bank's ninth straight increase took the closely-watched deposit rate to 3.75 percent -- a level last seen in May 2001 and equal to its previous record high.