France’s political turmoil is testing the strength of the Franco-German partnership. At a joint cabinet meeting, President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged to overcome their countries’ disagreements on key issues. Yet the absence of concrete progress is troubling, given both leaders’ fragile political standing.
In a world shaken by geopolitical upheaval—and with U.S. President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies straining EU unity—such cooperation between Europe’s two largest powers is vital. The roadmap presented in Toulon confirmed their intent to overcome recent disagreements in areas such as energy, trade, space, digital technology, and defense, and to reaffirm their joint commitment to European security and continued support for Ukraine.
Good intentions, however, are not enough. The meeting did little to clarify how Paris and Berlin intend to offer credible security guarantees to Ukraine. Major points of contention remain unresolved: the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project is stalled, and the dispute over the EU–Mercosur trade agreement continues. The lack of concrete progress is particularly worrying given both leaders’ weakened domestic positions.
After one hundred days in office, Merz enjoys only 32% favorable opinions in Germany—compared to 56% for Scholz and 74% for Merkel at the same stage. With unemployment surpassing three million for the first time since 2015 and his coalition strained by internal divisions, the chancellor faces growing challenges. The far right now polls near 25%, an unprecedented level in postwar Germany.
But for that engine to keep running, it will take more than determination—it will require the one thing France currently struggles to provide: stability.