Macron inspires in Dresden with start of speech in German

France's head of state Emmanuel Macron began his speech on Europe in Dresden in German, triggering thunderous cheers. "Today, as the first French president since reunification to address you here in Dresden, I am particularly honored (...). It touches me deeply," said Macron in front of the Dresden Frauenkirche in front of tens of thousands of listeners. "My first personal experience with Germany was at French school," Macron said. "I learned the German language and culture and I still do. I do my best, believe me." At that time, he also took part in an exchange between his home town of Amiens and Dortmund. "I discovered your country, which was still divided by the wall at the time."

Macron emphasized that it was an honour for him to speak in Dresden. "It is an honor for me as a Frenchman and friend of Germany, but also as a convinced European." Macron also said: "It is a pleasure to be here with you, here on the Neumarkt. Perhaps I should say it is a pleasure to finally be here after I unfortunately had to cancel our meeting last year. But postponed is not canceled."

In January, Macron had already made an impression at the state ceremony for the deceased CDU politician Wolfgang Schäuble in the Bundestag with a speech that he delivered in large parts in German. Macron also interspersed a few German phrases during his dinner speech at Bellevue Palace on Sunday, for example when he spoke of the land of poets and thinkers, which for young French people is also a land of DJs and teams.