By Ramin Namvari

Say farewell to the Merkozy dominance of Europe. The increasing likelihood of François Hollande getting elected as the the next French president is now seriously threatening the alliance of Merkel and Sarkozy that has been guiding European policy for the past few years.

Ever since the rise of Hollande in the French presidential campaign, right wing leaders across Europe have dutifully expressed their support for the incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy in the French election. First, there was the unprecedented, if somewhat odd endorsement of Sarkozy by Angela Merkel, even before the incumbent himself declared his candidacy. Then,  David Cameron, who’s had the occasional quarrel with Sarkozy, wished him good luck in the election, and snobbed Hollande when the latter made a visit to London. Similar refusals to meet Hollande were made on the part of the right wing leaders in Italy and Spain.

But François Hollande is now cementing his own Europe-wide entourage as a conference of centre-left leaders was held in Paris last week. The highlight of the conference was the endorsement of Hollande by the leader of Germany’s Social Democratic party Sigmar Gabriel, in what can only be seen as an overt retaliation against Merkel’s earlier declaration of support for Sarkozy.

Hollande’s victory in the upcoming election can boost the position of the left in Europe, empowering the Social Democratic party in Germany against Merkel. And already the leadership of Spain and Italy (not to mention the rest of Europe) are weary of Germany’s overwhelming influence in European policy.

So it is that the once mighty Merkozy alliance over Europe could come to its end. The German chancellor better prepare herself for some awkward conversations with a new face in the Elysée.