A Europe of Merkel and Fillon?

François Fillon and Angela Merkel lead in the polls to become the respective leaders of France and Germany. Both cater to the center-right and embrace free-trade, the EU and globalization. Their similar platforms as well as past tenure together could shore up “the French-German dynamic [that] has been so central to the construction of Europe since the 1950s,” writes Camille Pecastaing for Foreign Affairs. President François Hollande declared that he would not seek a second term, marking the first time since 1958 that the incumbent in France has not run for reelection. Conversely, Merkel is looking to serve her fourth term as chancellor. The leaders of France and Germany confront troublesome issues including an influx of Muslim refugees, a far-right backlash to globalization, rising Russia, and the results of populist British and American elections. – YaleGlobal

A Europe of Merkel and Fillon?

German and French candidates’ similar center-right and pro-globalization platforms could usher in new era of cooperation with 2017 elections
Camille Pecastaing
Tuesday, December 6, 2016

The author is senior associate professor of Middle East Studies at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.

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