European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde indicated again on Thursday that she intends to serve her full term to complete various projects, including the digital euro. This marks her latest response to recent speculation about a potential early departure. Market rumors had suggested Lagarde was planning to step down ahead of schedule, allowing French President Emmanuel Macron, who is set to leave office, to influence the selection of her successor before next year's election. Lagarde has since reiterated her "baseline" expectation that she will remain in her role until the end of her term in October 2027. Speaking before the European Parliament, she stated, "The digital euro is one of the missions I consider crucial." "My baseline expectation is that completing and consolidating this mission will require staying until the end of my mandate: this includes price stability and financial stability, as well as a robust digital euro—covering all areas, online, offline, wholesale, and retail." In a private message to colleagues seen by media, Lagarde also affirmed that she remains focused on her work and would inform her colleagues first if she were preparing to resign. An early resignation by Lagarde is seen by some as potentially making it easier for like-minded leaders such as Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to influence the choice of her successor. However, following the unexpected resignation of Bank of France Governor François Villeroy de Galhau earlier this month, if Lagarde were to follow suit, it could attract criticism about "unelected central bankers interfering in democratic processes." The ECB has previously stated that the digital euro is essentially an electronic version of cash, intended to help replace dollar-denominated payment methods such as credit cards, but it will not be ready before 2029.