French Central Bank Governor Resigns, Effective June 2026; Macron to Appoint Successor

French Central Bank Governor François Villeroy de Galhau submitted his resignation on February 9, 2026, effective June 2026. The departure, cited as personal due to taking a role at the Fondation Apprentis d'Auteuil, moves the appointment of his successor to President Emmanuel Macron. Had he remained, the next head of the Bank of France would have likely been chosen based on the outcome of the April 2027 presidential election, with current polling indicating a potential far-right candidate. The timing follows the passage of the 2026 budget late in 2025, ensuring stability and avoiding renewed market volatility following earlier legislative deadlock. Macron will now select a successor aligned with his pro-European, centrist economic agenda.