Analysis: ‘Merllande’ will be a trickier marriage of convenience

Merkozy, that is Angela Merkel and Nicolas Sarkozy, were poles apart in substance and style but found a common ground in the fight for the survival of the euro and the European project itself. It is not thought that the relationship with Mr Hollande will be so easy to forge.

Merkozy was a union of pragmatism but there was always a sense in that relationship that Mrs Merkel wore the trousers. Her knack was in making Sarkozy feel he was in control and never threatened. Merllande it will be a more tricky relationship. The pre-nup to this marriage will state that he gets to keep all the ideas of growth and spend, spend, spend politics while she can hang on to the thriftiness.

Both are acutely aware that whatever they do for Europe, it is by their own domestic electorates that they will be judged. Mrs Merkel has been in briefings with her French specialists since Mr Hollande’s election to try to formulate a policy that will leave her beloved stability pact intact even while the new man in her life declares that it cannot stand.

Compromise, of course, must and will be reached.