Will Friedrich Merz come to power will mark the start of a new chapter in the Franco-German relationship? While Olaf Scholz’s mandate has been marked by important rivalries with France on European subjects, the arrival of Friedrich Merz as Chancellor can hoped for an alignment of the positions of the two countries. To mark this revival, Friedrich Merz will go to France on May 7, two days after his inauguration.
Towards a revival of Franco-German relations?
“We are going towards this revival,” said the European deputy Bernard Guetta (Renaissance) while relations between Emmanuel Macron and Olaf Scholz were deemed to be bad. The two men have never succeeded in engaging in common and carrying the voice of the European Union on subjects such as military aid to Ukraine or the climate crisis. Nevertheless, the coming to power of Donald Trump and his aggressive foreign policy accelerated the deep questioning of the German model.
“We are going towards the birth of a new Germany compared to that which we have known since the end of the Second World War,” enthuses Bernard Guetta who notes that Germany can no longer rest on the American military umbrella.
Germany, is “most likely not hostile to a common European loan for rearmament”
“This Germany, today, wants to invest in common defense, it is no longer hostile to debt for investment in infrastructure and armaments,” notes Bernard Guetta to illustrate the structural political developments that Germany is going through. Until recently, Germany was particularly hostile to the use of debt, pushing to limit the deficits of different European countries. In March, the CDU and the SPD, which make up the power coalition, agreed to put aside budgetary orthodoxy and announce A massive investment plan for infrastructure and defense. For Bernard Guetta, the most populous country in the European Union is now on “the same position as France on major files”.
The development of a European common defense, no historical divergence between France and Germany, is experiencing major developments. Germany is “most likely not hostile to a European common loan for rearmament”, underlines Bernard Guetta. Already mentioned last March, the idea of a common loan could make his return.
