Christine Lagarde, former IMF and European Central Bank, emerges as a possible rival for centrist candidates in elections in France

If Lagarde decides to run, she would have around 14% of the vote in the first round, slightly ahead of Philippe's 13.5%, highlighting the fragmentation of the centrist electorate in France.

However, both would be behind the far-right leader, Marine Le Pen, and the left-wing candidate, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who, according to the research scenarios, should advance to the second round.

Lagarde, who served as France's economy minister under former president Nicolas Sarkozy nearly two decades ago, is set to leave the ECB on Feb. 7, about a month before the date on which potential candidates must formally declare their intention to run for president of France.

When announcing her resignation from her position at the ECB, Lagarde stated that she does not intend to run for President of France, but said that she wants to defend pro-European values ​​in her country, "in the role she considers most efficient".

According to sources, her departure from the ECB would come because Lagarde wants to have more freedom to speak out on political issues in France and on the international stage.

Asked by Politico if she still ruled out the possibility of running, Lagarde said: “I said I want to regain my freedom of expression, my freedom to get involved in issues other than monetary policy, and that's what I want to do.”