Angela Merkel is leaving the European political arena after 16 years in power. As the French measure the greatness of a leader in reforms, power symbolism and quality of rhetoric, in some ways, for them, Merkel’s departure is a non-event. As far as the French are concerned, Merkel took advantage of Shröder's austerity reforms but did not invest in the future of the country, she always refused attributes of power and delivered rather boring speeches. However, as leader of a country that grew to become a major European power, Angela Merkel embodied stability and steadiness. Her departure could make way for the French vision of a powerful Europe ("Europe puissance"), an ambition that president Macron has been aspiring to since coming into office.
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