'Dear Olaf': France's Macron welcomes new German chancellor

Both played down potential differences over green investment rules, EU budget

French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany's new Chancellor Olaf Scholz played down differences on Friday over reform of EU budget rules and the place of nuclear in green investment financing, pledging to keep the Franco-German axis strong

The trip to meet Macron in Paris was Scholz's first foreign visit since he became German leader on Wednesday, ending 16 years of rule by Angela Merkel. Diplomats say the change presents Macron with an opportunity to seize a more senior role in the Franco-German relationship.

"During the last four years I have worked with Angela Merkel on all these subjects ... I know that