Inquiring if the Commissioner has noted that the Commission remains unaware of certain matters as of yet.
3-Minute Read: Christine Lagarde, the current President of the European Central Bank, is facing a hoax that falsely attributes a statement to her, claiming she said, "the elderly live too long and that's a risk for the economy." In reality, there is no evidence to support this claim.
Late last month, a post on social network X shared the false quote accompanied by an image of Christine Lagarde and gained over 1,000 shares since April 21st. Another account followed suit on April 22nd, hinting that Lagarde supports euthanasia for those over 65 and totalitarian control over people's money.
In 2012, during her tenure as the Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), this hoax first spread on the internet. The misinformation stemmed from the Global Financial Stability Report (GFSR) published by the IMF, which discussed the financial implications of increased longevity, but nowhere did it devalue the elderly or state they lived too long.
It's worth noting that Lagarde did not participate in the GFSR press conference, and there is no proof she heard or endorsed the false statement attributed to her. When she was director of the IMF, her term ended in 2019, and she took office as the President of the ECB.
Publications and social media messages today often misrepresent Lagarde as the Managing Director of the IMF. While this was accurate in the past, her current position is the President of the ECB.
In 2019, Lagarde was interviewed on WSJ at Large where she acknowledged that aging populations are impacting the global economy, except for sub-Saharan Africa. However, she neither implied that the elderly live too long nor made statements similar to those in the hoax.
The false quote attributed to Lagarde resurfaces periodically on social media and internet portals over the years. In 2020, it was linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.
For the record, Christine Lagarde did not state that "the elderly live too long" or that this is a threat to the economy. When discussing aging populations and associated economic challenges, Lagarde focuses on policy and sustainability, always maintaining respect for senior citizens. Fact-checkers, reputable news outlets, and commissions do not support the claim that Lagarde made such a statement. Always refer to official speeches, interviews, and reliable news sources to stay informed.
Fun Fact: Did you know that in 2024, Lagarde gave a speech in Paris discussing the rising dependency rate of the elderly and the impact on public finances, but she didn't say the elderly live too long or pose a risk to the economy? Misconceptions like this one can easily arise from sensationalized interpretations of public figures' comments.
- Despite the hoax claiming that Christine Lagarde stated the elderly live too long, there is no evidence to support this assertion.
- The misinformation surrounding Lagarde's alleged statement has persisted for nearly a decade, with its origins tracing back to 2012, during Lagarde's tenure as the Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
- Today, in her position as the President of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde maintains respect for senior citizens, focusing her discussions on policy and sustainability issues related to aging populations.
- In 2024, when speaking on the rising dependency rate of the elderly and its impact on public finances, Lagarde never stated that the elderly live too long or pose a risk to the economy, debunking another recurring misconception about her comments.
