September 23, 2011
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has a vision for Europe, one which involves increased solidarity to save the euro zone. His attempts to convince Chancellor Angela Merkel are hiding his own country's weaknesses. Some are concerned that Germany may soon stand alone.
Members of the French National Assembly and Senate listened attentively last week to a briefing from their president. As he does every Tuesday, Nicolas Sarkozy had invited leading representatives from within his governing party to breakfast at the Élysée Palace. There was nothing out of the ordinary about the weekly routine. Nor was it a surprise that at last week's breakfast, the French president addressed the euro crisis and the difficult negotiations over aid for Greece. But then, Sarkozy formulated his thoughts in a way that baffled his audience: "I spent the night with Germany."
But was he able to get any sleep?
Thinking about Germany has become a French obsession, because France is worried. It is wondering whether Germany will remain true to the European Union and the euro . Will Germany choose solidarity over discipline? Will Germany ultimately accept the measure that prevailing Parisian opinion considers inevitable and agree to collectivize national debt within the euro zone?
In any case, Sarkozy let one glimmer of hope peek through. "The good news," he told his ministers, "is that Angela is moving in a sensible direction in terms of saving the monetary union." Left unspoken: "But if it weren't for me...."
More
No comments:
Post a Comment