Olaf Scholz vs. Emmanuel Macron: an ancient animosity
The German chancellor and French president's relationship has been productive, but Ukraine war has put it under strain

"Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron have never liked each other," said Isabelle Lasserre in Le Figaro (Paris). They've nothing in common. Germany's chancellor is an "austere Protestant" of the traditional Left, and was raised in the "pacifist tradition".
France's president is a "spontaneous disruptor" who leads the EU's only nuclear state and isn't afraid to make his views heard. The pair have clashed on subjects from the economy to defence to energy policy ever since Scholz came to power in 2021; but until now, they've almost always found ways to overcome crises and present a united front for Europe's common good.
Macron the 'warmonger'
No longer, said Stefan Meister in Le Monde (Paris). In recent months, the two have been embroiled in an increasingly acrimonious public dispute, the catalyst for which has been their conflicting views on managing the war in Ukraine. Berlin views Macron as a loose cannon who acts without consulting EU allies: it took particular umbrage at his suggestion that Nato ground troops be deployed to Ukraine. Paris, for its part, is frustrated by Scholz's refusal to send Taurus missiles to Kyiv for fear of provoking Putin, viewing it as typical of his habit of doing "too little, too late".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Yet it's an entirely bogus charge: the reality is that Germany is the "second-largest supplier of arms to Ukraine", behind only the US. France lags behind in 14th place. Maybe, but Scholz was wrong to portray Macron as a "warmonger", said Michaela Wiegel in Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. You only have to look at his record in the Sahel, where he has cut back France's military presence. But Macron rightly views Putin as an existential threat to Europe, and wants to deter him from further aggression.
'A Europe that protects'
The fundamental cause of this fallout lies across the Atlantic, said Clea Caulcutt and Hans von der Burchard on Politico (Brussels): "Germany still looks to the US for security leadership in Europe, France entertains visions of a 'Europe that protects'." But this is a dispute that will become meaningless if Donald Trump is re-elected in November. Should that occur, Europe faces a very real danger of having to counter Putin's aggression without US support.
No wonder Poland's PM Donald Tusk felt it essential to hold talks with both leaders last week in a bid to revive the Weimar Triangle, an until-recently dormant alliance between the three nations. Macron and Scholz must bury their differences, agreed Christopher Ziedler in Der Tagesspiegel (Berlin). There has rarely been a more crucial time for European powers to speak with one voice, and this childish spat cannot be allowed to overshadow the EU summit due to begin in Brussels this week. If it does, you can be sure that champagne corks will be "popping in the Kremlin".
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Brexit 'reset' deal: how will it work?
In Depth Keir Stamer says the deal is a 'win-win', but he faces claims that he has 'surrendered' to Brussels on fishing rights
-
Donald Trump's foreign policy flip in the Middle East
Talking Point Surprise lifting of sanctions on Syria shows Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar are now effectively 'dictating US foreign policy'
-
Home energy: Bills are up, efficiency is out
Feature The Energy Star program saves Americans billions of dollars, but the Trump administration plans to 'eliminate' it.
-
Pirro: Trump turns to another loyalist
Feature Trump appoints Jeanine Pirro, a 2020 election denier, as U.S. attorney
-
Hate pays: Making $770K from a racist rant
Feature A Minnesota mom made $770,000 after being caught on camera calling a 5-year-old boy a racial slur
-
Medicaid: Will millions lose coverage?
Feature House Republicans have proposed a plan to cut Medicaid coverage for millions to help fund the GOP's tax cuts
-
The military: Hegseth's escalating culture war
Feature The Pentagon is ordering military academies to purge their libraries of books on race, gender, and discrimination
-
U.S. hits brakes on trade war with China
Feature The Trump administration agreed to a 90-day tariff pause with China