Lagarde did not say what role she would seek if she returned to French politics, however. And she added that whatever decision she takes would depend on the stability of the European economy.
“Given that we are once again going through a turbulent period, I believe the captain of the ECB ship must stay on board,” she told Les Echos.
Lagarde’s term leading the ECB runs until October 2027, about six months after the presidential contest. Speculation about her future has been rife since the Financial Times reported in February that she was planning to leave early to allow French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to help pick her successor.
The 70-year-old European central bank chief told the Wall Street Journal a few days later that she planned to see out her term.
In her interview with Les Echos, Lagarde said that if she were to resign, it would be to debate Euroskeptic voices, such as those of the far-right National Rally.
“If it looked like there were prospects of a diminished French role in Europe, I think it’s important to explain why that would be a painful path for our country and our citizens,” she said.
Opinion polls suggest that Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella are the current favorites in the presidential race. But the National Rally cannot finalize its candidate until after Tuesday, when an appeals court delivers its verdict on an embezzlement case that knocked Le Pen out of the election.
Marion Solletty contributed reporting.