A prominent supporter of Emmanuel Macron fears Angela Merkel’s humiliating failure to build a coalition government in Germany could spell “the end of Europe”.
Germany – and Europe – is in the midst of a political crisis after Mrs Merkel failed to strike a coalition deal last week when talks broke down.
EU officials fear this will put any chance of reforming the bloc on hold at a crucial moment after Mr Macron had championed a ‘new Europe’ with a united army and elected president.
However, Mr Macron’s political rivals have said the crisis could provide the country with a much-needed opportunity to finally break free of German control.
Julien Aubert, a centre-right politician in the Republican Party, said that the crisis in Germany could provide France with a chance to lead Europe.
He took aim at the Franco-German alliance at the centre of the EU as he told DW: “In the past, we had an irrational hatred of the Germans, now we have an irrational love.
“We do not benefit from giving Germany the keys to the truck and hitching ourselves to the back. France needs to stop that.”
However, members of the French President’s En Marche party have claimed that uncertainty and stagnation in the EU could end up ripping it apart.
Chantal Lieb, a supporter of Mr Macron’s political movement, added that stagnation in Europe could mean France and Germany go their separate ways.
She explained: “If we do not move forward, Germany will focus on Russia and China, and France on the Mediterranean and that will be the end of Europe.”
Remi Bourgeot, a leading economist in the country, added: “The political uncertainty around Brexit and crisis in Germany will make it harder to reform the eurozone and the EU.”
However, another supporter of Mr Macron added that now France was leading Europe.
He said: “If Angela Merkel wants to move forward, she will need to listen to Macron.”