German chancellor Olaf Scholz backs Macron against far‑right surge

The Chancellor of Germany usually stays out of democratic elections in friendly countries. However, Olaf Scholz makes an exception for France. "I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the French can prevent the formation of a government led by the right-wing populist party," said the German Chancellor.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz supports French President Emmanuel Macron after his defeat in the first round of parliamentary elections. Now he sends Macron a text message every day, Scholz admitted. "We are discussing a situation that is really depressing," the German Chancellor said on Tuesday (July 2, 2024) at a parliamentary left-wing festival in Berlin.

Although the German Chancellor usually stays out of democratic elections in friendly countries, in the case of France, Scholz makes an exception and takes a clear stance.

"I personally keep my fingers crossed that the French, whom I love and appreciate so much, a country that means so much to me, can prevent the formation of a government led by a right-wing populist party," Scholz said.

After losing the European elections, Macron called for new parliamentary elections. In the first round, the far-right National Rally (RN) of Marine Le Pen became the strongest force, surpassing the new left-wing alliance and the centrist camp of President Macron, who came in third.

The decisive second round of voting next Sunday will determine the composition of the National Assembly. And probably only if the liberals and the left join forces, they can stop Le Pen's party. At least, that's the hope of many candidates. Over 200 have withdrawn from the second round of elections to prevent the far-right from taking power.

In Berlin, Chancellor Scholz demanded that Germany now be "a bastion of stability in Europe." "Political uncertainty has gripped all European countries," he said, referring to the election results in Scandinavia and the Netherlands. Right-wing populist parties are already in government there. Scholz also mentioned Belgium, Spain, Portugal, and Austria.

In Germany, Scholz sees a threat from AfD, but also from the new Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), which "fishes in the same murky waters." These groups can always find new enemies, both internal and external. "When it starts, you can always find new ones who will fuel hatred among themselves," Scholz warned. That's why an alternative needs to be offered.