French election triggers crisis for austerity plans

Angela Merkel's agenda of forcing through austerity programmes from Athens to Dublin faced its toughest test yet with the success of François Hollande in the first round of French presidential elections.

Shares across the eurozone fell sharply yesterday, followed by Wall Street, as investors digested the political news from Paris. Dismal economic news from the eurozone added to the uncertainty. Michael Hewson, an economist at CMC Markets, declared that victory for Mr Hollande would be "Europe's worst nightmare".

The euro also fell amid concerns that the consensus, formed largely by Ms Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, that cutting budget deficits should be the main goal of European governments was on the brink of collapse. The fall was exacerbated by the demise of the Dutch government amid failure to agree on budget cuts.

Centre-right Ms Merkel attempted to put a brave face on Mr Sarkozy's waning powers, with her spokesman declaring: "The Chancellor continues to support President Sarkozy."

While austerity has pushed down German borrowing costs, other countries have seen themselves punished by the financial markets. French 10-year debt is now trading at yields of more than 3 per cent, compared with Germany's 1.6 per cent and Britain's 2.1 per cent.

Mr Hollande believes too much emphasis is being placed on budget cuts, and not enough on measures for growth. Yesterday he declared that if he became President, it would be "the end of imposing austerity everywhere, austerity that brought desperation to people throughout Europe".

He is also keen for the role of the European Central Bank to be extended beyond just demanding austerity to include a remit of spurring growth, which could involve more exposure for German taxpayers to potential funding of the eurozone's weaker nations.

Mr Hollande plans to balance the French budget a year later than Mr Sarkozy, by 2017.