‘… So cute! …and they don’t get in the way of the main attraction!’ On 21 November 2009, German cartoonist Horst Haitzinger takes an ironic look at the role that the Franco-German duo intends to play on the European stage and criticises the controversial appointments of Herman Van Rompuy as President of the European Union and Catherine Ashton as High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy welcome the new situation created by this choice of low-profile figures lacking in charisma and public recognition — they are depicted as dwarves who fade into obscurity before the omnipresence of the Franco-German duo. The Franco-German pair are shown admiring the two huge self-portraits dedicated to them — on the left, French President Sarkozy is illustrated as Emperor Napoleon, while German Chancellor Merkel is portrayed as the great Germania.