Germany vs. France

Uh-oh. Remember what happened last time Germany and France disagreed over Europe’s future? Nicholas Sarkozy’s advocacy of a government takeover of important companies marks, according to Der Spiegel, “the beginning of a conflict over which model is to dominate Europe in the future, that of the social market economy, which keeps the government out of the business of running companies to the greatest extent possible, or the French model of a government-controlled economy.” Germany, whose economy “has outperformed France by almost every economic measure,” favors the former model. Sarkozy’s ego isn’t making cooperation any easier—he recently said “Without me Europe would be in a sorry state.” How long until German tanks roll into Paris?