The elections in Germany have generated significant media attention among its European neighbors, in particular in France. Our Senior Policy Fellow discussed these crucial issues across multiple platforms.
The electoral campaign for the Bundestag, which ended on Sunday with a victory for Friedrich Merz' CDU, highlighted Germany’s economic challenges, from industrial restructuring to trade tensions with China and the U.S. Meanwhile, Germany’s international positioning is being tested, with concerns over transatlantic relations and the Franco-German partnership. Our Senior Policy Fellow Yann Wernert appeared in various French media to explain the issues at stake in this election, which saw the victory of the CDU and the rise of the far-right AfD party.
Yann Wernert analysed the election campaign’s key themes in a long interview on France Inter, alongside Dirk Schneemann (President of the Franco-German Economic Circle in Berlin) and Isabell Hoffmann (expert at the Bertelsmann Stiftung Foundation). He highlighted the paradox of the far-right AfD’s influence on public debates despite being excluded from coalition considerations. He also reflected on Germany’s historic ties with the U.S., now under strain due to shifting American foreign policy.
When asked on TF1 Info about the state of Franco-German relations ahead of the parliamentary elections, Wernert emphasized how painful the journey has been in recent years, “particularly because many traditionally complicated subjects between France and Germany had to be urgently addressed: defense, energy and finance.” Despite notable cooperation on Ukraine and energy policy, he noted that these efforts still feel insufficient given the magnitude of current challenges.
Interviewed by France 24, Yann Wernert assessed the CDU’s chances of forming a coalition and the broader implications of the elections for European stability: "There won’t be much time for political disputes, as Germany is expected to deliver quickly on key issues," he stated, underlining the urgency of decisions on competitiveness, energy transition, and security policy.
The full list of Yann Wernert’s media contributions can be found on his profile.