How would Hollande, Merkel mix?

There has been a great deal of austerity-bashing — that is to say Germany-bashing — this French election season. Buoyed by his success in the first round, socialist contender Francois Hollande declared last Thursday: “It is not for Germany to decide for the rest of Europe.” Vowing to reset Europe on a growth path, he said, “we’re not just any country, we can change the situation.”