How About the French Transition?

German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R)

greets visiting French President

Emmanuel Macron in Berlin

on May 15, 2017 | Xinhua/Shan Yuqi

The first round of the French presidential election was April 23, the second round 14 days later on May 7 and the transition completed on Sunday, May 14. It was a simple ceremony at the Élysée Palace, a speech by the new president and the brief ride down Avenue des Champs-Élysées in a military vehicle. A wreath was laid and President Macron went to work.

One day later, he was in Berlin building an essential relationship with German Chancellor Merkel. Nice transition – less money spent and time wasted and no arguments about crowd size.

New French President Emmanuel Macron waves from a military vehicle as

he rides on Avenue des Champs-Élysées towards the Arc de Triomphe

in Paris, France, May 14, 2017 | AP Photo/Michel Euler, POOL