SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 21, 2012
French President François Hollande will put German Chancellor Angela Merkel under pressure at Wednesday's EU summit to agree to euro bonds, which she has so far strictly opposed. Italy and Britain are expected to back Hollande in a further sign that Merkel is increasingly isolated in Europe with her austerity plan for saving the euro. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 17, 2012
According to German calculations, the new French president's call for an even lower retirement age and more public workers should not add up to economic growth. But despite violating established economic principles, the French economy works surprisingly well. By Christian Rickens more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 16, 2012
Just hours after his rain-soaked inauguration, new French President François Hollande flew to Berlin to meet with the German chancellor. The pair did all they could to exude amiability, but with Hollande now intent on fulfilling his myriad campaign promises, it remains to be seen how long the congeniality will last. By Severin Weiland in Berlin more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 15, 2012
François Hollande, sworn in as French president on Tuesday, will have no time to savor the moment. He will dash to Berlin to challenge Angela Merkel's austerity policy on Tuesday evening. Then he has to form a cabinet and honor his pledge to cut ministerial salaries. He urgently needs to score successes ahead of parliamentary elections in June. By Stefan Simons in Paris more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 15, 2012
Hopes that Chancellor Angela Merkel will back down from her strict insistence on austerity are likely to be dashed despite mounting European criticism of her policy and a crushing state election defeat for her party on Sunday. Most Germans like how she has handled the crisis, say analysts. By David Crossland more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 14, 2012
Despite his anti-austerity rhetoric on the campaign trail and her open support for Nicolas Sarkozy, François Hollande and Angela Merkel are expected to make compromises during their first meeting on Tuesday. In the euro crisis, the pair has no choice but to get along. By Ralf Neukirch and Mathieu von Rohr more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 07, 2012
With the election of François Hollande as French president, Nicolas Sarkozy is history -- as is the Merkozy duo in Berlin and Paris. German-French relations will have to be realigned. Given that the election has come in the midst of the euro crisis, Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will need to learn to get along quickly. By Philipp Wittrock more... [ Forum ]
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 07, 2012
On the night of his victory, France's new president seemed exhausted and overwhelmed by the size of his task. François Hollande has little time to master the transition from candidate to president. He faces important tests at home and abroad, including finding a way to get along with Angela Merkel. By Mathieu von Rohr in Paris more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 04, 2012
New polls indicate that the gap between French President Nicolas Sarkozy and frontrunner François Hollande is narrowing. But most still expect the Socialist challenger to emerge victorious on Sunday. German commentators say that Hollande still has a lot to learn -- and the sooner he does, the greater the clout he will have in Europe. more...
SPIEGEL ONLINE
- May 03, 2012
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble is the leading candidate to become the president of the Euro Group, the common currency's powerful decision-making body. But if François Hollande wins the upcoming French election, he could scupper the appointment, dealing a major blow to Chancellor Merkel. By Philipp Wittrock more... [ Forum ]
