Merkel’s Troubles May Spell Trouble for All of Europe
Berlin said that But what we were waiting for — a new dynamic
because Macron would finally have a partner to revitalize the European locomotive or the Franco-German couple — this is postponed and that is serious.
And Macron can’t do it on his own." With Ms. Merkel weakened
and Germany facing the possibility of a caretaker government before new elections in the spring, European Union reform will be put through another extended delay.
Devout supporters of the British exit from the European Union — known as Brexit — saw Ms.
Merkel’s troubles as helping their cause — "the political weakness of the strongest E.U.
Serious decisions on the eurozone, migration, asylum, defense
and other issues — let alone negotiating Britain’s exit from the bloc — were already put off until after the French and German elections this year.
" he said. that But it might matter in the long term, because if the negotiations get stuck, Merkel and Macron could intervene to get a deal,
"He has this window of a year before the European elections while he’s still powerful to try to get things done." Mr. Macron has hung his political fate, and
that of Europe, on hopes for a strong Franco-German engine to drive reforms.