The Greek crisis will fast expose Hollande
Whether Hollande will maintain his anti-austerity stance and side with Greece or whether he will back German policy remains to be seen. No matter how much tweaking of EU fiscal agreements he can negotiate, the political storm brewing in Greece is likely test him sooner rather than later. - The choice Mr Hollande makes will be fateful, for France and Europe. Potentially, France’s new president could position himself as the head of Europe’s southern rebels. There is no doubt that the Spanish and Italian governments – even if nominally from different political families – have been cheering on the French socialist. They, like the Greeks, desperately want to see a challenge to German austerity orthodoxy.
Kumaran Ira & Alex Lantier: Incoming French president signals budget cuts, handouts to banks