ECB's Lagarde won't rule out early departure

FRANKFURT, July 3 (Reuters) - European ‌Central Bank ​President ​Christine Lagarde said it was still possible she could leave before her term ends in late 2027 to ‌weigh in on French politics, but running in next ⁠spring's French presidential election was not "currently" on the agenda.

Responding to a question from ‌French newspaper Les Échos ‌whether she would rule out leaving early, perhaps to take part in French politics, she said: "It's possible. I believe that ​a European voice needs to be heard in the French presidential debate."

Lagarde has previously played down resignation rumours, saying a ⁠ship's captain would not leave during turbulent times, as inflation surged on an oil-price ​spike triggered by the Iran war. She said then that her baseline was to remain in the job ​until her term expires at the ‌end of October 2027.

While she did not repeat this line, she appeared to rule out running ⁠in the French election next spring.

When asked if she'd support a candidate or stand as one, she first said "I will reflect on it," ⁠then added: "I’m joking. I don’t think that’s currently on the agenda."

She said her ​main job would be to bring a European argument into national politics.

"I would speak with a French and a European voice, because I am profoundly ‌both," Lagarde said on her possible role in the election.

"I would tell them that France must ‌play a decisive role in the economic future of our continent. ⁠And that without this ‌European environment and anchoring, ​our economic prospects would, at the very least, be unclear," she said.

(Reporting by Balazs Koranyi. Editing by ‌Mark Potter)

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