The head of government added that Berlin should work with Paris, its main ally, to boost the European Union (EU). Scholz’s declarations come after the results of an election in which Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party was the favorite in the polls, but the ballot boxes elected a divided Parliament.

A left-wing alliance won unexpectedly, but no group obtained a majority, which will lead to complicated negotiations to form a government in that country.

Germany and France, the EU’s two largest economies, have traditionally driven decision-making in the bloc together.

“It would have been a big challenge if the French president had to form a coalition with a right-wing populist party,” Social Democrat Scholz told reporters.

Relations between the two biggest powers in the EU mechanism were strained after the German chancellor took office at the end of 2021 amid political differences.

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