Christine Lagarde of the ECB -

Michael Probst / AP / SIPA

In an interview with the French magazine

Challenges

, the President of the European Central Bank (ECB), Christine Lagarde, expressed regret at the lack of women in positions of responsibility, including within her institution.

"There are still too few women in positions of responsibility in the world, especially in the economic and financial fields, including in central banks", declared the first woman at the head of the ECB, from which she took over. the reins in November 2019.

“Of the 25 members of the ECB's Governing Council, Isabel Schnabel, member of the executive board, and I are the only two women in the family photo… This is not normal!

», Denounced Christine Lagarde.

Isabel Schnabel's reaction did not wait.

This Friday, the German tweeted: "It is difficult to overestimate the importance of leaders like Christine Lagarde who speak openly on these issues, despite all the appalling misogynistic comments that are sure to follow."

It is hard to overstate how hugely important it is to have leaders like Christine @Lagarde who openly speak out on these issues, in spite of all the dreadful, misogynist comments that will certainly follow.

#EmpowerWomen https://t.co/QLeyWEzbhV

- Isabel Schnabel (@Isabel_Schnabel) September 18, 2020

Has the health crisis worsened the problem?

According to Christine Lagarde, "a certain awareness is there", but it is however only "the beginning of the process".

She thinks the coronavirus crisis has "made the situation for women more difficult".

“Women make up nearly 70% of the health professions, they are more at risk in terms of health.

With confinement, they find themselves on all fronts, forced to work while looking after children, not to mention intra-family violence, ”she stressed, estimating that“ as in all economic crises, they are more exposed to risk of losing their job or seeing their wages drop ”.

In July, the official praised the women leaders in the management of the Covid-19.

She said: "I have learned that women tend to do a better job," highlighting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, President of Taiwan Tsai Ing-wen, Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and from Belgium, Sophie Wilmès.

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  • gender equality

  • Coronavirus

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