Merz begins first foreign tour as chancellor with Paris and Warsaw visits
Photo: Friedrich Merz and Emmanuel Macron (Getty Images)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with French President Emmanuel Macron. Merz made his first foreign trip as chancellor, and Macron published a video of the meeting on X.
It is noted that Macron met Merz in the courtyard of the Élysée Palace in Paris with a “firm handshake and a heartfelt pat on the shoulder.” The media note that Merz’s visit is more of a working trip.
At the same time, both sides wanted to “bring a breath of fresh air into Franco-German relations” after the change of government in Germany.
"A promise of momentum and the same demand: to move Europe forward. Success depends on us. Welcome to Paris," he wrote on X.
La promesse d’un élan et une même exigence : faire avancer l’Europe. À nous de réussir. Bienvenue à Paris, @Bundeskanzler ! pic.twitter.com/jYE2qPpi7k
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) May 7, 2025
Merz, in turn, stated that Europe needs a strong partnership between our countries.
"This inaugural trip to Paris is a real working meeting: President Emmanuel Macron and I have already exchanged views more than once. We believe in the German-French friendship," he commented on his trip to Paris on X.
After the visit to France, Merz will go to Poland. According to Tagesschau, the purpose of Merz’s trip to Paris and Warsaw is not to make specific decisions. The new chancellor wants to demonstrate “internally and externally” that he seeks fruitful cooperation with these two countries.
Merz – the new Chancellor of Germany
Yesterday, May 6, a vote took place in the Bundestag for the appointment of Friedrich Merz to the position of chancellor. However, he unexpectedly failed the first voting attempt: Merz was supported by only 310 deputies out of the required 316 votes.
The second round took place a few hours later – then his candidacy was supported by 325 members of the Bundestag.
Later, Merz took the oath, thus officially becoming the new chancellor of Germany.
