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Sarkozy, Merkel discuss their countries` futures

In a visit by German opposition figure Angela Merkel to France, which resembled more a state visit than a simple stop-by, she and French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy discussed closer cooperation between their countries and others in the EU.

Merkel is widely expected to become the Federal Republic of Germany`s next chancellor (and first female chancellor) should elections to be held in the fall go as expected and send current Chancellor Gerhard Schroder packing. Nicolas Sarkozy is the outspoken Interior Minister of France, serves as the head of the same political party of which current French President Jacques Chirac, and is expected to make a run for the presidency in 2007.

Both politicians differ from their colleagues currently in the seats of power they want to gain in that they don`t see anti-Americanism as a hallmark or the EU as simply a Franco-German club.