The countdown to the ECB's change of head has begun. Eurozone countries submitted candidates this week

The Zhitong Finance App has learned that Eurozone governments have been asked to submit nominations for ECB President Christine Lagarde's successor by Friday.

According to a Eurogroup spokesperson, Eurogroup President Kyriakos Pielakakis has called on member states to submit proposals by November 6. The Eurogroup consists of finance ministers from 21 eurozone countries. Eurozone finance ministers will evaluate these nominations at a meeting on November 9.

Currently, candidates include Pablo Hernandez Decos from Spain and Claas Knott from the Netherlands.

Lagarde said on Thursday that she will step down from office on February 7 next year, about nine months earlier than her original term in order to regain the freedom to speak on topics other than monetary policy. In the past, she has expressed interest in participating in discussions during the French presidential election later next year.