She is certainly the most successful European politician of modern times. Angela Merkel sailed through to win a fourth consecutive term, despite her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) getting a lower vote percentage compared to previous elections. This has been attributed to natural fatigue and frustration with her policies, especially in response to the refugee crisis. As a result, traditional conservative voters preferred the xenophobic Alternative for Germany (AfD) party pushing itself into Parliament with a double-digit percentage.

Merkel's record can be compared to that of Konrad Adenauer and Helmut Kohl. Challenges, though significant, are currently not the same due to the different historical periods in which the leaders worked. 

Merkel may not have undertaken the role of reconstructing her country after World War II or the responsibility of uniting East and West Germany after the fall of the Berlin Wall. However, she played a catalytic role in the preservation of the eurozone during an unprecedented debt crisis, the worst to hit the West since the Great Depression. 

As has happened in the last 12 years, the CDU will not be able to govern alone. Several scenarios of coalition governments are being discussed. A continuation of the Grand Coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) does not seem likely after its leader, Martin Schulz, ruled it out. So, a tie-up of the CDU with smaller parties, the Liberals (FDP) and the Greens – the so-called Jamaica coalition – is probable. Deliberations will take weeks to conclude, keeping Germany adrift till a new coalition takes shape. 

The political nature of the new coalition will define its approach vis-à-vis the EU. Those holding specific portfolios will command importance, though Merkel will set the tone. From what she has said in the previous months, the CDU leader intends to take steps at strengthening European integration. New French President Emmanuel Macron is very interested in reviving the European project and the German chancellor agrees with him in principle. 

Macron's victory in May has been generally considered a fresh opportunity for Europe to buy some time and beat anti-EU and extreme right-wing political forces. Merkel is aware of the right time to change the EU and the pressure Macron is exerting might be a little frustrating, but constructive. Even during talks for the new German coalition government, the French president will publicly set out his vision for Europe in order to avoid delays. 

Macron wants a eurozone budget, a eurozone finance minister, and possibly, a eurozone parliament. His ideas are ambitious and promising. However, as long as the details have not been agreed upon, no Franco-German consensus should be taken for granted. For example, what could be the new responsibilities of a eurozone finance minister? And which country will pay more for the eurozone budget and how much will it contribute? These questions reflect the difficulty of forthcoming negotiations between Berlin and Paris. 

What deserves special attention is Germany's will to potentially transform the European Stability Mechanism into a European Monetary Fund. Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble initiated the idea and Merkel is on the same page. 

Even here, however, several questions have been raised. It is debatable if a European Monetary Fund can be established under the current EU legal framework. Its creation will probably require a change in treaties, which is a complicated and time-taking process in the EU. Also, it is unclear whether such a Fund will support investments, especially in southern European states. And the terms of the loans to be granted are yet to be decided. For now, the German Foreign Ministry is considering proposals that are at a brainstorming stage.

Since Merkel has won, Berlin will change its agenda for Europe. Rhetorically, the crisis-management period will be over yielding place to a new stage where common achievements will be at the epicenter and some optimism will be spread. This is certainly positive for the EU, which has suffered a lot in previous years. Merkel's motivation to be remembered for her four-year term as the leader who created a stronger Europe to respond to crises and international challenges might be the driving force toward European integration. Her determination to partly compromise with the French stance on the future of the EU could be the secret of success. 

(This piece was originally published on Global Times. The author is a lecturer at the European Institute in Nice, France. The article reflects the author’s opinion, not necessarily the view of CGTN.)