All Along the Watch Tower: The European Central Bank and Legitimation Strategies in Times of Crisis

How does the European Central Bank (ECB) legitimise its decisions and monetary policy programmes in period from 2009 to 2021 terms of input, throughput output legitimacy? This article contains an answer this important question based on a content analysis speeches made by presidents ECB. Ideally, institution is founded independence therefore cannot maintain legitimacy through public influence. proves that there are clearly most references ECB's legitimation strategy, showing it highlights results as independent compensate for lack democratic channels legitimacy. Generally, times crises, increase frequency During these periods, ECB actors also more frequently refer speeches, fact sensitive criticism.