Two bandages visible on Christine Lagarde's face marked the announcement of her departure from the European Central Bank. The person responsible came up with protection on her nose and face and, according to ECB officials, she underwent the removal of a “small skin cancer”.
© Christine Lagarde/X
29/10/2026
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Christine Lagarde announced this Thursday that she will leave the presidency of the European Central Bank (ECB) on 7 February, nine months earlier than expected. However, it was not the unexpected announcement that meant speaking... but two visible bandages on his face. What happened?
In a video, where he announced his departure from the ECB, Lagarde comes up with two bandages on his face: one in his nose, next to his eye, and one across the left side of his face.
In an attempt to “avoid comments on social networks”, the still president of the ECB explained that the two bandages “should be a small surgery” to which he was submitted “at the beginning of this week”.
And he advised: “Follow medical recommendations and do regular skin tests.”.
However, in an internal video message addressed to all ECB officials, to which POLITICALO had access, Lagarde revealed more details.
“ I know I look weird. He did not do kickboxing in Thailand,” he said, after attending the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Bangkok earlier this month.
“ It was just a small skin cancer that had to be removed,” he explained.
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 these who have supported me on this journey over the past seven years. https://t.co/eSLLTaDAej
— Christine Lagarde (@Lagarde) October 29, 2026
Christine Lagarde has been President of the European Central Bank since November 2019. His current term of office ended in October 2027.
In the video, Christine Lagarde stated that it was “an immense pride and privilege” to serve the ECB, thanking all those who “contributed, supported and worked to fulfill” the institution’s mission to ensure “price and financial stability”.
“ I think I leave this institution with the feeling of fulfilled duty and with an ECB prepared for the future”, he says.
Later, Lagarde said he would leave office in February to have freedom of expression and to pronounce on matters beyond monetary policy.
“ The reason why I anticipate the end of my term of office when I left in February 2027 instead of October is, as I told colleagues and members of the staff and governors, because I want the freedom of expression and the freedom to speak on matters beyond monetary policy,” Lagarde said after the Governing Council meeting.
Before taking office as President of the ECB on 1 November 2019, Christine Lagarde was Director-General of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) between 2011 and 2019 and Minister of Economic Affairs and Finance of France between 2007 and 2011.