Merkel needs a miracle

Never in the post war period has a German chancellor so openly interfered in the affairs of a neighbouring country. Angela Merkel has announced that she is openly supporting Nicolas Sarkozy in the French presidential election. She will give a joint interview with Sarkozy tonight to both French and German television and has, thus far, refused multiple invitations to meet Sarkozy’s socialist challenger – and leader in the polls – François Hollande.

It’s such a foolhardy idea, I find it difficult to know where to begin.

There is a very good reason why politicians don’t involve themselves in the elections of other countries: there’s not much chance of it ending well.  Setting aside the fact that electorates don’t particularly appreciate being told how to vote by a foreign power*, Merkel seems to be backing a losing horse. Sarkozy is openly talking of losing the election and leaving politics. If that were to happen, her actions would mean Merkel would not only lose an ally – but also gain an enemy.

Admittedly, even without this intervention a Hollande presidency would have been a substantial setback to Merkel – he is no great supporter of austerity. Merkel needs to stay the course if the euro and, by extension, her chancellorship is to survive. But surely it would have been a better idea to sit tight, wait and hope for either a political miracle and another Sarkozy term – or for Hollande to change his tune once in office, once the bluster of the campaign subsides.

Merkel’s desperation could mean all she can hope for is a miracle.

*I know nothing about French politics, but apparently the French electorate are already fed up with comparisons to Germany. At least according to the German press...