Germany’s Scholz hopes France will prevent far-right-led government

Why It’s Important

Germany and France form the backbone of the European Union and a political change in either country could shift the balance in the entire bloc.

Germany itself is seeing rising support for the far-right Alternative for Deutschland, which currently score second in opinion polls, although national elections are not due until autumn next year.

July 7 will see the second round of France’s parliamentary election.

Key Quotes

– Scholz described the situation in France as “depressing”.

– “In any case, I am keeping my fingers crossed that the French, whom I love and appreciate so much, the country that means so much to me, will succeed in preventing a government led by a right-wing populist party from being formed,” Scholz said.