Personality Problem?

When former French President Jacques Chirac would come calling on Chancellor Angela Merkel, she seemed charmed by his gallant style, old world sensibility and those light kisses on the hand that got so much media play. But his successor's habit of familiarly kissing and hugging the German leader at their meetings has left her cold, even annoyed, according to reports, and has not helped strengthen a relationship that is seen as pivotal within the European Union.

Were it just a matter of where to place a kiss, the issue might be solved with the intervention of a protocol officer. But the differences between the two leaders are ones of both style and substance, which make them more difficult to bridge.

Last week, France's government spokesman said Sarkozy told his cabinet his latest talks with Merkel had been "very frank" -- diplomatic speak for heated. It comes after a series of low-level spats, including disagreements over the independence of the European Central Bank, the future of nuclear power, Sarkozy's protectionist murmurings, and even his stealing the spotlight over the freeing of Bulgarian medics long held by Libya.

According to observers in both France and Germany, Merkel is not amused. The French Le Figaro newspaper said the chancellor was irritated by Sarkozy's "rough and ready" manner. The German Rheinische Post daily called the relationship one in "deep crisis."

"There is real annoyance, although I wouldn't use the word 'crisis,'" said Henrik Uterwedde, deputy director of the German-French Institute in Ludwigsburg in southwestern Germany. "But it's not peanuts and it should ring alarm bells."

Styles: day and night

When Sarkozy became president in May, it was thought he and Merkel would be the perfect couple. Both come from parties on the right-hand side of the political spectrum, both have an interest in economic reform and getting an EU reform treaty back on track. They were even born just six months apart. But, on closer examination, the fact that they have not hit it off personally might not be surprising. Their styles could not be more different.

Angela Merkel, a pastor's daughter who grew up in East Germany, is cautious and reserved. She has a down-to-earth style that dispenses with all flash. But she has succeeded in finding a way to communicate her positions -- even to foreign leaders on controversial topics like human rights in China or Russian democracy -- in a low-key but effective manner. She is the quintessential team player.

Nicolas Sarkozy is a near opposite of that. Brash and in constant movement, he has been called hyperactive by many. Comparisons to Bonaparte have been frequent, given his dismissive behavior towards his cabinet and his apparent love for showmanship and the spotlight.

"France's government system is much more hierarchical than Germany's," said Uterwedde. "Under Sarkozy, it is even more so."

Sarkozy recently crashed a meeting of finance ministers in Brussels and explained his country's short-term economic strategy while France's own Finance Minister Christine Lagarde "sat there like a schoolgirl," according to Uterwedde.

When German Finance Minister Peer Steinbrück accusing the French president of "giving fiscal handouts to voters" instead of keeping his European budgetary promises, Sarkozy became incensed.

"How dare you speak to me in that tone," Sarkozy is said to have replied, and was later furious with Merkel for not rapping her finance minister's knuckles as he requested.

L'état, c'est moi?

While observers say the Franco-German situation has not reached the breaking point, Sarkozy would be wise to calm his style and become more of a player on Team EU, or he could risk alienating more than just Angela Merkel.

"Sarkozy has to learn that France is not playing alone but is part of a team called Europe," said Isabelle Bourgeois, a researcher at CIRAC, a Paris-based think tank that studies Franco-German relations.

As far as the symbolic relationship of the French and German leaders goes, the current situation is bad, she says, although she's careful to add that on the economic level, the two countries are integrated more than ever. So far, the Merkel-Sarkozy irritation has caused little serious collateral damage.

But other key areas, such as reforms of European markets, the constitution and the euro require close, high-level Franco-German cooperation. The fact that the two leaders might have a difficult time being in the same room together could hinder European progress on those fronts.

Wider irritation

Just this weekend, tensions over economic policy between Sarkozy and other European leaders burst into the open.

The head of the German Bundesbank, Axel Weber, called Sarkozy's understanding of economic realities "zero" in the wake of the French leader's constant criticism of the European Central Bank. Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg's prime minister, suggested the French leader focus on France's own economic woes instead of constantly carping on the bank's management of the euro.

"On the EU stage, his showmanship will be forgiven once," said Uterwedde. "But if he continues playing this role, he'll have problems.

He says Sarkozy's recent spats with EU leaders and his sometimes contrarian views are a combination of his wanting to score political points at home and his own personality.

"I think the biggest danger for Sarkozy is Sarkozy himself," he said.