Christine Lagarde made a personal revelation, explaining that the two bandages on her face during the announcement of her early departure from the European Central Bank (ECB) were the result of a minor surgical procedure to remove skin cancer.
The 70-year-old ECB president announced on Thursday (10/29) that she will step down on February 7, 2027, nine months before the scheduled end of her term in October of that year.
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However, beyond the surprise announcement, attention on social media was drawn to the two bandages visible on her face during her video message.
“It’s just a small skin cancer that had to be removed.”
Lagarde initially rushed to offer an explanation in a post on the X platform, noting that she had undergone a minor procedure earlier in the week.
“Just to avoid any speculation on social media, the bandages on my face are due to a minor surgical procedure I underwent earlier this week,” she wrote.
In the same post, she also offered some advice to her followers: “Follow your doctor’s instructions and check your skin regularly.”
I have just informed my colleagues that I will step down as @ECB President on 7 February 2027. It has been a source of great pride to serve this institution. I thank all of those who have supported me on this journey over the past seven years. https://t.co/eSLLTaDAej
— Christine Lagarde (@Lagarde) October 29, 2026
However, in a separate internal video message to ECB staff, which was obtained by Politico, Lagarde revealed more details, addressing the issue with humor.
“I know I look funny. I didn’t go kickboxing in Thailand,” she said, referring to her recent trip to Bangkok for the International Monetary Fund’s annual meetings.
“It’s just a small skin cancer that had to be removed,” she added.
The European Central Bank declined to comment further, referring to Lagarde’s previous public statement, while no additional information was provided regarding the type of cancer or the surgery.
Early Departure from the ECB
Lagarde’s announcement put an end to months of speculation regarding her future at the helm of the European Central Bank.
Her term was originally set to end in October 2027, but she announced that she would step down on February 7, thereby initiating the succession process earlier than expected.
The ECB has not specified what her next professional or political steps will be.
However, Lagarde has previously hinted that she would like to publicly express her views on developments in France, particularly in light of the 2027 presidential election.
According to an official familiar with the reasoning behind her decision who spoke anonymously to Politico, her early departure is linked to her desire to have greater freedom to speak publicly. As this source noted, Lagarde decided to step down nearly a year before the end of her term in order to have “greater freedom to express her views and address issues beyond monetary policy.”
The same source added that Lagarde “cannot remain neutral when she sees the developments in her country and around the world.”
Source: Proto Thema
