Christine Lagarde’s early departure from the presidency of the European Central Bank (ECB) gives current European Union (EU) leaders time to pick a successor well before a French presidential election that polls show far-right candidate Marine Le Pen is favorite to win, according to Reuters, in a text republished by Euronext.

The former central bank governors of the Netherlands and Spain, Klaas Knot and Pablo Hernández de Cos, are seen as frontrunners to replace her, according to Reuters. The ECB said Thursday that Lagarde will resign February 7, nine months ahead of the end of her eight-year term, according to AP.