Germany hopes for constructive govt after French elections

BERLIN, July 8: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Monday he hoped a "constructive" government would emerge from the aftermath of Frances inconclusive parliamentary elections, while expressing "relief" at the defeat of the far-right National Rally (RN).

Pre-election polling had put the RN in first place, raising fears for the European Unions future direction with an anti-immigration, eurosceptic party potentially controlling the government of a key member.

In the end a left-wing alliance emerged as the biggest group in the new parliament, with the RN falling to third behind President Emmanuel Macrons centrist bloc.
Scholz told reporters that "I and the whole German government are relieved" that the prospect of a "very challenging" cohabitation between centrist President Emmanuel Macron and "a right-wing populist party has been averted".    —AFP