Angela Merkel bids farewell to France after 16 years in power
Audio 01:24
Angela Merkel offers herself a last walkabout in France, as German Chancellor, in the company of French President Emmanuel Macron, on November 3, 2021 in Beaune.
AFP - PHILIPPE DESMAZES
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Angela Merkel was Wednesday November 3 in Beaune in the heart of Burgundy to bid farewell to France as chancellor.
Emmanuel Marcron had organized a friendly visit for him between wine and gastronomy to turn the page of sixteen years of Franco-German relations and to salute the four years spent between the two leaders.
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With our special correspondent in Beaune,
Julien Chavanne
For Angela Merkel's last visit in her chancellor's suit, the French President welcomes her under the magnificent vaults of Clos de Vougeot, a wine estate classified as a Unesco heritage.
The
program is tailor-made
, to the credit of the German leader.
Passionate about music, she enjoyed a piano recital.
And a more solemn moment: the presentation of the Grand Cross, the highest distinction of the Legion of Honor.
Far from the rooms of the European Council and when it comes time to say goodbye, the words are more personal.
"
I wanted to thank you for having accepted this impetuous young president who wanted to shake up everything,"
Emmanuel Macron addresses him.
You accepted this energy, maybe sometimes this insolence, with a lot of benevolence and wisdom.
"
►
To listen: What makes the Franco-German couple is not the staging ”
"
Same values
"
“
With the French presidents,”
Angela Merkel replied, “
I have always known that we had the same values, even if at the beginning we often had different ideas.
We managed to do more together than each of us.
"
Angela Merkel leaves with another decoration, that of a member of the Knights of Tastevin, a brotherhood that celebrates Burgundian traditions.
Very different at the start, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel ended up appreciating each other.
A page turns between Paris and Berlin.
►
To read also: Macron and Merkel affirm a "convergence" of views in the face of international crises
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France
Germany
Angela Merkel
Emmanuel Macron