Notenbank: Merz trifft Kandidaten für Lagarde-Nachfolge bei der EZB

Düsseldorf - Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) has scheduled meetings with the two leading candidates to succeed Christine Lagarde at the helm of the European Central Bank (ECB), according to sources familiar with the matter, as reported by Bloomberg. The two frontrunners, Spaniard Pablo Hernández de Cos and Dutchman Klaas Knot, are reportedly discussing their candidacies for the top position with Merz.

A meeting with Knot is expected to take place in the coming days, while a meeting with Hernández de Cos is anticipated to occur over the next few weeks. These conversations between Merz and the candidates for Lagarde's position represent the most tangible sign of movement behind the scenes in the race for the ECB's leadership. Prior to this, Lagarde had hinted at a possible premature departure, and German central banker Isabel Schnabel had announced her resignation.

Additionally, the term of ECB Chief Economist Philip Lane ends in May. Schnabel's position becomes vacant at the beginning of January, and the ECB has already asked the governments of the eurozone to identify a successor. Discussions on this matter may commence as early as next week during the meeting of the eurozone finance ministers.