Berlin anticipates continued consolidation efforts in France, regardless of the outcome of Prime Minister François Bayrou’s upcoming confidence vote on Monday.
Government officials in Germany are projecting a continued focus on fiscal stability within France, regardless of the result of Bayrou’s vote. State Secretary for Europe at the Foreign Office, Gunther Krichbaum (CDU), emphasized the expectation of European political continuity even with a potential new government in Paris, particularly following recent successes in de-escalating tensions. Krichbaum, speaking to the “Tagesspiegel” highlighted that any new Prime Minister will face unavoidable pressure to manage the state budget responsibly, given growing concerns from financial markets.
However, former EU Commissioner Günther Oettinger (CDU) voiced apprehension about a potential new Eurozone crisis emanating from France if projected budget cuts are not implemented. He noted that a prolonged period of government formation could necessitate working with a budget projecting a deficit of nearly six percent, potentially triggering instability in markets.
Anton Hofreiter (Greens), Chairman of the European Affairs Committee in the Bundestag, described the democratic shifts in France as routine but cautioned against the ramifications of increased polarization. He warned that if political uncertainty in France allows far-right parties, such as Marine Le Pen’s party, to gain traction, it could pose a risk to the wider European landscape.
