Lagarde won’t quit

French Finance minister Christine Lagarde was in the eye of the storm after BFM, a radio station that specializes in finance and business, announced she had offered to quit last Wednesday. Stephane Richard, her cabinet director, denied the information. ‘I would like to deny firmly this rumour which is completely unfounded,’ he said Friday. Lagarde, 51, is the first female to run France’s finance ministry. She is also well-known for her previous career as an international lawyer. Lagarde is currently campaining for the coming municipal elections in the 12th district of Paris. She has been under fire since September, when she claimed there would be a policy of ‘rigour’ in France. This comment had infuriated French President Nicolas Sarkozy.