Germany, France in ‘intensive’ talks on new ECB chief - Kuwait Times

BRUSSELS: Germany and France are locked in talks to decide who will succeed Christine Lagarde as European Central Bank president, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said. The ECB is the central bank for the 21 countries that use the euro, setting interest rates that influence borrowing costs across the economy, from mortgages to credit-card repayments. France is believed to be supporting Spain’s former central bank head Pablo Hernandez de Cos for the top job, while former Dutch bank chief Klass Knot is also in the running.