Merkel throws support behind Sarkozy

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Merkel throws support behind Sarkozy

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Angela Merkel and other European leaders have agreed not to meet Francois Hollande.

04 March,2012 07:03 pm

They decided not to meet Frances Socialist presidential candidate during his election campaign because of his plan to renegotiate their budget discipline treaty, Germanys Spiegel reported.Germanys Christian Democrat chancellor, Spains conservative Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and Italys technocrat leader Mario Monti made the agreement, later joined by British Prime Minister David Cameron, even though he did not sign the treaty, the weekly magazine wrote without citing sources.A spokeswoman for the German government denied the report on Sunday, commenting: Every government leader decides for themselves whether they will meet Mr Hollande.Hollande is the frontrunner in polls ahead of the two-round April-May election.Asked whether Merkel would meet him in Berlin, the spokeswoman said: Up to now there is no such appointment.Hollande visited London four days ago to meet French ex-pats and reassure the financial sector he was not dangerous. He met British opposition Labour leader Ed Miliband but not Cameron.Hollande said he had the support of left-wing governments in Belgium and Denmark and did not need support from what he called the most conservative governments in Europe.