According to a survey by the Financial Times, former Bank of Spain Governor De Cos and former Dutch Central Bank Governor Notte are the top choices among European economists for the next European Central Bank (ECB) president. European Central Bank (ECB) The position will become vacant in November 2027, when current President Lagarde’s eight-year term expires. Bundesbank President Nagel and European Central Bank (ECB) Executive Board member Schnabel have both publicly expressed interest in succeeding Lagarde.Among the 70 economists surveyed by the Financial Times, 26% chose De Cos as Lagarde’s successor, with Notte receiving 24% support, and Schnabel and Nagel at 14% and 7%, respectively. Christian Kopp, Head of Fixed Income at Allianz Global Investors, stated: ““De Cos is the candidate with the strongest technical understanding of monetary policy and central banking.” Against a backdrop where the independence of some national central banks is under pressure, appointing a “professional technocrat” like De Cos would send a strong signal that “Europe will not waver and the euro will remain a strong currency.”