The winner of Germany's parliamentary elections has travelled to Paris to meet the French president for a working dinner on Wednesday. View on euronews

French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany's conservative chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz agreed during a meeting in Paris to open a new chapter in Franco-German relations, a source close to Merz told Reuters.

To immediately free up budgetary leeway to finance his country's rearmament, the incoming chancellor plans to vote in a special €200 billion fund for the army. He hopes to reform the strict budgetary rules – the "debt brake" – enshrined in the Basic Law, with the support of the outgoing Bundestag.

After securing the largest share in the German election, Friedrich Merz has met with President Emmanuel Macron in the French capital. The pair discussed European security in the face of a shifting US policy on Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron will dine with Germany's chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz at the Elysee Palace in Paris on Wednesday evening, the Elysee said. The palace said the two leaders would meet for a "working dinner" but gave no further detail.

As Donald Trump raises questions over security, Germany’s election winner and the French leader want to safeguard the continent’s influence.

Friedrich Merz, Germany's likely next head of government, is already trying to shape foreign policy. He is especially concerned about Germany's ailing relationships with France and Poland.

Incoming German leader will hold high-stakes talks with French president as Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump hover over Europe.

Germany’s Friedrich Merz on Sunday (March 5, 2025) reiterated that he was open to France extending its nuclear deterrent in Europe, as the continent seeks to respond to U.S. President Donald Trump’s upending of the transatlantic alliance.