Germany news: Merz, Macron plan closer nuclear cooperation
Skip next section Merz promises to 'extend a hand' to next French president 07/17/2026 July 17, 2026 Merz promises to 'extend a hand' to next
Skip next section Merz promises to 'extend a hand' to next French president 07/17/2026 July 17, 2026 Merz promises to 'extend a hand' to next French president Germany's Merz, following the German-French consultations near Cologne, promised to "extend a hand" to the next French president who succeeds Macron. France is expected to hold the first round presidential elections in April 2027, with Macron ineligible to run due to term limits.
"We will continue to do everything we can to ensure that this cooperation with our French neighbors remains as close, as deep and as trusting as possible, regardless of how voters in France decide," Merz said. Recent opinion polls show far-right politician Marine Le Pen as the most popular candidate. Le Pen has earlier called for an end to French military cooperation with Germany Image: Christian Hartmann/Reuters Pool/AP Photo/dpa/picture alliance Le Pen was convicted of embezzling EU funds in 2025 and was banned from holding public office.
However, an appeals court earlier this month lifted that ban, despite upholding the conviction, with Le Pen vowing to run for the presidency while wearing an ankle tag. "Beware of the
polls," Macron said during a press briefing alongside Merz. "Trust the French people, don't always predict the worst for them." Macron defeated Le Pen in the 2017 and 2022 French presidential elections.
The BriefWire