The author analyzes the impact of personal relations between Chancellor Angela Merkel and the French presidents on the development of bilateral relations and European cooperation. Merkel was the only chancellor in the history of Germany that cooperated with four French presidents who represented not only various political options, but also had different life experience and political temperament. In this context, the main research question focuses on whether Merkel, with a view tomaintaining bilateral relations vital for both countries and cooperation in the European Union, managed to establish not only good personal relations with the leaders of the Fifth Republic, but also gradually became the more dominant partner in these bilateral contacts to the benefit of Germany. The author proved the thesis that regardless of the political orientations of the Frenchpartners, their political experience and personal temperament, Chancellor Merkel managed to deepen bilateral cooperation between Germany and France and successfully combated the crises that occurred in the European Union. The source basis of the article are declarations, speeches, press conferences, reports from bilateral meetings posted on the websites of the governments of Germany (Die Bundesregierung; Die Bundekanzlerin) and France (France Diplomatie; Ělysée) and conclusions from meetings of the EU European Councils (consilium.europa). Especially helpful were press articles published in the leading dailies and weeklies of France and Germany. On the methodological level, the comparative, decision-making, behavioral and source content analysis methods were used in the preparation of the article.
Artykuł przedstawia implikacje wyborów do Bundestagu z 24 września 2017 r. oraz znaczenie masowego napływu ok. 1 mln nielegalnych uchodźców dla przemian wewnętrznych oraz roli Niemiec w UE. Według wszystkich sondaży ankietowych zwycięzcą wyborów do Bundestagu będzie chadecja – CDU/CSU, która utworzy nowy rząd z liberałami (FDP), bądź będzie zmuszona utrzymać dotychczasową koalicję z socjaldemokratami (SPD). Krytyka przewodniczącej CDU Angeli Merkel za otwarcie granic Niemiec dla nielegalnych uchodźców 2015/2016 nie zmniejsza szans jej ponownego zwycięstwa wyborczego. Strategia Merkel ma na celu przezwyciężenie licznych kryzysów unijnych, dalsze umocnienie roli Niemiec w UE oraz zacieśnienie bliskiej współpracy z nowym prezydentem Francji M. Macronem w ramach gruntownie zreformowanej strefy euro do 2025 r.
EN
The article presents implications of elections to Bundestag set for the 24 September 2017 as well as signifi cance of massive infl ow of about one million illegal refugees for domestic changes and the role of Germany in the EU. According to all opinion polls the winner of the incoming elections will be Christian Democrats – CDU/CSU, which will create a new government together with liberals (FDP) or it will be hypothetically forced to keep the foregoing coalition with Social Democrats (SPD). The criticism toward the CDU leader Angela Merkel for the opening of German borders to illegal refugees at the breakthrough of 2015 and 2016 does not decrease her chances for the reelection. Merkel’s strategy heads for overcoming of numerous EU’s crises, further strengthening of German role in the EU as well as tightening of cooperation with new French president E. Macron within profoundly reformed eurozone to 2025.
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