She warned not least a punitive dimension

Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy: two temperament diametrically opposed, two antithetical political animals, were known for a long time. As was the seriousness of the financial crisis, friction between the German Chancellor and the French President have however gained intensity. And took the form of a disturbing game, probably in negative amount for the two countries and Europe, where the provocation calls the arrogance and vice versa.

The origin of the sharp deterioration of bilateral relations: the translation of activism policy of Nicolas Sarkozy at the European level. With direct effect the relegation of Angela Merkel in the thankless role of the Chancellor who is not. Which had been made with an undoubted ease, from 2005 to 2007, in the skin of the "primus inter pares" of the old world, face of Chirac and Blair at the end of race, is now bitterly argue his sceptre.

In the leadership race, the French President enjoys a "happy" coincidence: a major crisis of capitalism comes at the time where he held the semi-annual function of President of the European Council. While the European Commission out by its vacancy, that most Governments remain petrified before the magnitude of the disaster, he seized an historic opportunity to apply to the European Union the methods employed in the hexagon. Forgotten program, sum all classic and man of the French Presidency of the Union, presented in June. A exceptional circumstances, exceptional response. Multiplication of initiatives, parenthood assumed or not, feasible or not, but without prior consultation with the European partners, travel, speeches, media Ubiquity always: Nicolas Sarkozy presents itself as Angel human which will lay the foundation of a new financial order. The Chancellor, that are both celebrated in 2005 for having unblocked the perilous negotiations on the European budget or for its own presidencies of the Union and the G8, so well organized, in 2007 is more than a spectator. Obligated to respond, to piecemeal, to the French proposals, as on a chessboard, a stripped King constantly set failure.

With a disastrous image effect: in rejecting, most insensitively, French projects, without properly explaining his motives sometimes very relevant, it is open to the suspicion of wrongheaded and systematic obstruction, or even the charges of selfishness. Illustration by three examples.

First, at the beginning of the crisis, Paris evokes the creation of a European Fund for bailouts. "Keineswegs", "out of the question", then strikes the Chancellor, the institutions in difficulty must be treated on a case by case basis and at the national level. Without explanation of text, the whole of Europe concluded that the Germany does not want to pay for its partners.

In fact, the Chancellery and the Ministry of finance estimate while a European Fund is not adapted to the great diversity in the Union, banking regulations, bankruptcy rights needs of banks. Above all, they did not imagine a moment that any national Parliament will approve the transfer of public money to a fund to save a bank located at the other end of the continent.

Second trial balloon: Paris proposes national sovereign funds to enter the capital of European companies-rolled stock, and protect potential hostile raids launched, randomly, from the Levant. Berlin is object, is open to foreign capital, rents the horizon of long-term investments most of sovereign wealth funds. In fact, the Germany is not frankly more prepared than the France to see a national champion pass under foreign flags. It passed a law this summer that helps to block equity in strategic sectors. Its application should remain "exceptional", dixit the Minister for the economy. She warned not least a punitive dimension. The Government spokesman, strengthening the cliché of the arrogant German, believed useful to clarify that German companies are in good shape, able to compete internationally ". Understand: they are not need help, they.

Here again, Berlin does not express its true reasons, philosophical. In the social market economy as theorized it Ludwig Erhard, the State has a function of arbitrator, it is that set the rules of economic competition and social relations. Far from the Gaullist design of industrial policy. May be read German ode to the virtues of the free movement of capital ringing False as an ironic response to the reference of Nicolas Sarkozy to the Alstom case. A genuine provocation, not devoid of cruelty. The Germans have never really digested the rescue forceps of the French group, in 2004, by one who was still as Minister of finance. Berlin expected that the European Commission would require a dismantling of the company, which could take Siemens. But Mario Monti, then Commissioner for competition, is persuaded to preserve the integrity of the company.

Latest example of red rag waved under the nose of the Chancellor: the proposal to create a Presidency of the euro area which would be a head of State or Government, able to summon crisis tops whenever necessary. "The Prime Minister and Minister of finance Jean-Claude Luxembourg, Juncker is the natural President of any form of Eurogroup," almost immediately said the Chancellor in an angry statement, visibly furious to see the France offer, again, an embryo of economic government of the euro area. A dear concept in the Elysee Palace, which is German for a conspiracy against the independence of the Central Bank, registered in the marble of the Maastricht Treaty.

The two leaders to discuss the issue on the sidelines of the EU-Asia Summit that starts today. It is hoped that they arrive at a lasting peace, not to avoid a damaging loss of energy, share and, at a time where EU needs rather constructive debates.