Europe’s ‘Merkozy’ duo to be reunited in Cologne

Europe’s infamous Merkozy duo is back. Two years after it was mothballed, the euro crisis duo will ride again next week in Cologne.

Nicolas Sarkozy will crown his political comeback as France's once and would-be future president by attending Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at their annual conference.

Mr Sarkozy’s appearance at the two-day conference comes after the former president topped a poll to head his embattled UMP party, opening the door to a re-election bid in 2017.

Their close co-operation that earned them the moniker “Merkozy”, came to an end with Mr Sarkozy’s notorious political uninvite of 2012. Then, President Sarkozy invited the German leader to support his re-election and deliver a stump speech about their eurozone crisis strategy. The German leader accepted the invitation, saying she supported the UMP politician “no matter what he did”.

But as Socialist challenger Francois Hollande advanced his anti-austerity campaign platform, putting the incumbent on the back foot, Mr Sarkozy performed an inelegant U-turn and uninvited the CDU leader. His explanation at the time, that the presidential election was “a matter for the French”, left Dr Merkel and her CDU officials fuming.

News of the German invitation suggests there are no hard feelings in Berlin – particularly after trying and failing to work with Mr Sarkozy’s successor.

The timing of the CDU announcement was probably no co-incidence either: as France’s Socialist finance and economic ministers arrived in Berlin for consultations with their German counterparts.

Those talks were expected to be dominated by German demands for France to do more to reform its economy and scale back its deficit. The frosty atmosphere between the two capitals has not been helped after the Europe Commission decided last week to delay until next March a decision on whether the French budget violates EU debt rules.

Though both capitals stress the separation of party and political business, the CDU’s wholehearted political backing for Mr Hollande’s political rival is unlikely to improve the workings of the Franco-German political and economic motor, largely stalled since Mr Sarkozy left office.

German finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble said it was standard practice for the CDU to invite leaders of sister parties from the European People’s Party (EPP) group.

He was “delighted” that Mr Sarkozy would visit and address the CDU conference.

“His speeches always fascinate his audiences, anyone who’s experienced one will tell you that,” he said.