Germany’s Jürgen Stark sent a tremor through financial markets when he announced his resignation from the European Central Bank’s executive board on September 9. At the time he cited “personal reasons,” but Mr Stark has just confirmed what everyone suspected – that there was much more to his decision.

He told the European Parliament on Monday that he will “very likely” make a statement at the end of this year, when he actually steps down. Expect a blast against the ECB’s government bond-buying programme – which he opposed, like many German conservatives – as well as other steps taken by central banks in Europe and beyond.

In the meantime, I couldn’t help thinking, Mr Stark might regret his decision to resign.

Jürgen Stark has resigned from the ECB. The central bank’s statement is below.

Today, Jürgen Stark, Member of the Executive Board and Governing Council of the European Central Bank (ECB), informed President Jean-Claude Trichet that, for personal reasons, he will resign from his position prior to the end of his term of office on 31 May 2014. Mr Stark will stay on in his current position until a successor is appointed, which, according to the appointment procedure, will be by the end of this year. He has been a Member of the ExecutiveBoard and Governing Council since 1 June 2006.

Having been informed by Jürgen Stark of his decision to resign for personal reasons, President Jean-Claude Trichet thanks him wholeheartedly for his outstanding contribution to European unity over many years. Having worked with Jürgen Stark for almost 20 years, he expresses particular gratitude for his exceptional and unwavering dedication as a member of the Executive Board and Governing Council for more than five years.

More to follow on FT.com

UPDATE: 15.02 The euro has fallen 1.2 per cent to a six-and-a-half month low of $1.3720.

The six-strong executive board is responsible for the overall functioning of the central bank. All of the six are also members of the governing council, which determines the central bank’s monetary policy. Mr Stark is thought to have been one of the objectors to the decision last month to expand the securities markets programme.

It is likely that Mr Stark will be replaced by another German.

UPDATE: 15.52 The FT’s Ralph Atkins and Gerrit Wiesmann report that Stark quit due to infighting over the bond purchases.