Poll puts Lagarde at 14% in fragmented French presidential race
What's new: The ECB chief would slightly edge Edouard Philippe in a first round still led by Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Melenchon.
A new poll put departing European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde at about 14% in France's 2027 presidential race if she runs, slightly ahead of former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe at 13.5%. The survey, commissioned by POLITICO, underscored how splintered the centrist vote could become as Marine Le Pen on the far right and left-wing leader Jean-Luc Melenchon remained the projected runoff contenders. Lagarde is due to leave the ECB on Feb. 7, roughly a month before potential candidates must formally declare. Asked at the Paris Peace Forum whether she had ruled out a bid, Lagarde said she wanted to regain the freedom to speak and engage on issues beyond monetary policy.