BERLIN: French President Emmanuel Macron has decided to postpone his state visit to Germany, which was scheduled to begin on Sunday, due to the ongoing violent riots in France, according to an announcement made by the German presidency. The decision comes after four days of violent unrest in several parts of France.
On Saturday, President Macron spoke with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier over the phone and informed him about the situation in his country. Following the conversation, Macron requested a postponement of his planned state visit to Germany, the German presidency stated. The Elysee Palace, separately, confirmed that Macron wished to remain in France in the coming days, considering the current situation.
No new date has been agreed upon for the postponed visit, according to a French source. President Steinmeier’s office expressed regret over the cancellation and emphasized understanding given the circumstances in France. Steinmeier expressed hope that the violence on the streets would cease as soon as possible and that social peace could be restored.
Relations Between France and Germany
The state visit was viewed as an opportunity to strengthen the relationship between the two major European Union powers. Macron’s three-day trip would have involved traversing the country from west to east, signifying the first state visit by a French president to Germany since 2000 when Jacques Chirac visited Berlin.
While acknowledging that both sides have various opportunities to meet, a French source pointed out that a state visit primarily serves as a celebration of Franco-German friendship rather than a strictly political meeting. Consequently, the timing of this visit was deemed unfavorable given the ongoing riots in France.
The decision to postpone the state visit reflects the gravity of the situation in France and the priority placed on restoring order and security within the country. Both leaders will continue to monitor the situation closely and explore alternative opportunities to further strengthen cooperation between France and Germany.
