Speculation is currently high over German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s immediate political future. However, it is the medium-term governance of neighboring France that is causing perhaps even greater worries across Europe. Right-wing populist National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, who was tacitly endorsed by US President Donald Trump ahead of the 2017 French presidential election and who has twice finished second behind Emmanuel Macron, is the favorite to win next May’s vote. Polls put her in a com
