How long before he is marching on Moscow? Reaction in Berlin to Emmanuel Macron’s European ambitions can be less than generous. Mr Macron, you are reminded, would not be the first French president to have been carried away by his own grandiose rhetoric. Remember Nicolas Sarkozy’s promise of a great “rupture” to restore French leadership?

This week saw Mr Macron playing on the international stage during a state visit to China. Europe is back, he told his host, Xi Jinping. There was no need to add that by “Europe”, he means France. Whether it is with Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin or Mr Xi, the youthful Mr Macron has mastered the part of statesman-summiteer. Unabashed, he wraps a European flag around France’s national interests.

The Napoleon jibe says as much about the condition of German politics as it does about France. You can see why German policymakers might chafe. Diplomatic energy in Paris contrasts with stasis in Berlin. Angela Merkel used to speak for Europe in Beijing. Since September she has been grounded — this week resuming the months-long effort to secure a governing majority in the Bundestag after September’s election.