Macron urges French voters to ignore polls, Germany vows partnership

On 17 July 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met in Brühl, Germany. Macron warned the French public not to place trust in opinion polls that show National Rally leader Marine Le Pen as the favourite for the 2027 presidential election, recalling how polls in 2016 failed to predict his own 2017 victory. He urged citizens to “trust the French people” and to let the democratic process run its course, noting that he cannot run for a third term under the French constitution.

Merz stressed that Germany will keep strengthening its partnership with France regardless of who wins the election. The leaders announced plans to deepen bilateral defence cooperation, accelerate joint projects such as nuclear deterrence initiatives, and respond to external pressures, including competition from China and the stalled Future Combat Air System programme. Both officials presented a united front to ensure continued Franco‑German collaboration across political and security domains.