The new German chancellor, Olaf Sholz, has reserved for France his first official visit abroad. It takes place on Friday December 10. “Obviously, that will strengthen the Franco-German bond”, estimated Marie Krpata, researcher at the Study Committee on Franco-German Relations at the French Institute of International Relations (Ifri), Friday on franceinfo.
“He had announced during the electoral campaign that his first visit would take place in Paris”, she recalls. “It is the next day in addition to the presentation of the priorities of the French presidency of the European Union, which will take effect in 2022, explains the researcher. So, yes, I think this is a very strong moment “. “Yesterday, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock saw her French counterpart as well and she emphasized that France is Germany’s closest friend”, emphasizes Marie Krpata.
According to her, this visit will allay the fears that the French government has nourished since the German elections: “There had been a concern on the part of France that there would be no operational partner on the German side when the French presidency of the European Union took effect in early 2022, rshe calls. “We know that after the elections in Germany, there was no clear majority that was established. There were negotiations that took place between three parties, specifies the researcher. But in the end, we managed to come to an agreement fairly quickly and therefore I think that the Franco-German couple will be able to be operational rather quickly. “
Especially since the government experience of the new chancellor will allow, according to her, to adapt quickly. “Olaf Sholz, who was vice-chancellor, was finance minister under Angela Merkel. He already knows his counterparts”, emphasizes the researcher. “He knows Bruno Le Maire, with whom he worked very closely, but also at European level, he knows Thierry Breton. They worked together on industrial policy, on projects, in particular alliances, on subjects such as batteries, semiconductors, hydrogen. So I think it will be up and running very quickly. “, she concludes.