Welcomed this Wednesday in Beaune (Côte d'Or) by Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel bade farewell to France after sixteen years in power, during which she worked closely with four French presidents.

“Angela!

Angela!

Well done !

», Shouted the crowd which awaited the two leaders in the city center of Beaune.

The Chancellor, relaxed, accompanied the French President, alongside their husbands, Brigitte Macron and Joachim Sauer, to greet the few hundred onlookers.

“Enjoy your retirement,” a man told him in English, in the middle of the selfies.

A symbolic city

After the solemnity of the G20 and COP26 summits, the atmosphere was very relaxed between the two leaders, who greeted each other with a warm hug. For this farewell visit, the Elysée has chosen Beaune, "a city whose historic monuments and wine culture illustrate the richness of French heritage". After strolling through the historic center, they had to visit the famous Hospices de Beaune, a 15th century architectural gem in a flamboyant Gothic style.

The former hospital, world famous for its wine estate, hosted, in June 1993, François Mitterrand and Helmut Kohl for the 63rd Franco-German summit.

But, while the latter had stayed there for dinner, the Macron and Merkel couples will go to the Château du Clos de Vougeot, an emblematic monument of wine-growing Burgundy located in the middle of the greatest vintages, founded by Cistercian monks in the 11th century.

After a piano recital, the President and the Chancellor will be inducted into the Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin which, since its creation in 1934, has celebrated Burgundy, its cuisine and its wines, as well as its traditions.

Grand'Croix

Le Clos is home to the world championship of eggs in meurette, a Burgundian specialty of soft-boiled eggs in a Burgundy wine sauce. The starter is on the diners menu made by Yohann Chapuis, chef of the Greuze restaurant in Tournus. It will be accompanied in particular by a pâté en croûte, Burgundy truffles and grapes, Charolais beef as well as fresh cheeses and chocolates from Burgundy. All washed down with a 2015 Saint-Aubin 1er cru and a 2014 Nuit Saint-Georges 1er cru.

One of the highlights of the evening will be the presentation, by Emmanuel Macron, of the Grand'Croix, the highest distinction of the order of the Legion of Honor, to the chancellor.

This decoration, awarded to Konrad Adenauer, Willy Brandt, Helmut Kohl and Gerhard Schroeder, "embodies the strength of the Franco-German friendship, maintained by Angela Merkel", explains the presidency.

By emphasizing the four years "of fruitful work between the President and the Chancellor in order to strengthen bilateral cooperation, marked in particular by the signing of the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 2019, and to contribute to the European project".

" Listening skills "

Since the 2017 presidential election, the personal and work relationship between Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel has evolved considerably. Initially, it was difficult to find much in common between the 67-year-old chancellor, brought up in the school of prudence, and the young president of 43 years who set up daring and movement in political markers. But over time, according to many witnesses, they have succeeded in building a solid relationship of trust. The French president has long encountered German reluctance to increase EU spending.

Faced with the Covid, they were able to strengthen their ties to conclude an alliance leading in 2020 to the European recovery plan of 750 billion euros, largely financed by pooled European loans.

In recent months, the French President has praised the Chancellor's “commitment”, “patience” and “listening skills”.

Before Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel had to adapt to the very different characters of Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy and François Hollande.

The Chancellor must leave politics after the constitution of a new government expected in December and currently negotiated by the Social Democrats (SPD), winners of the legislative elections of September 26, with the ecologists and the liberals.

If they succeed, the current Minister of Finance, the Social Democrat Olaf Scholz, will succeed him.

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