Spain kicks off bid for ECB top job as Lagarde succession talk heats up

Spain has become the first country to openly bid to succeed Christine Lagarde as ECB president, signaling Madrid’s aim for an influential leadership role at Europe’s central bank. Former Spanish central bank governor Pablo Hernández de Cos is widely seen as a leading candidate, with rivals such as Klaas Knot and a broader 2027 leadership reshuffle likely shaping the field.