2012.05.07 14:35:05 Merkel Says Germany Will "Work Well" With Hollande

BERLIN -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel sought to calm fears Monday that the election of socialist Francois Hollande as president of France could derail the close cooperation between Berlin and Paris in combating the euro-zone crisis. Merkel spoke with Hollande on Sunday evening, and the German chancellor said the two leaders would "work well and intensive" with each other to resolve the euro zone debt crisis. "German-French cooperation is essential for Europe," Merkel told reporters at a news conference at her party's headquarters in Berlin. Hollande, who won the French election on Sunday, is openly critical of the economic policies of Merkel and his conservative predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy. Hollande had called for renegotiating the fiscal pact on budget discipline in the euro zone and for creating a commensurate "growth pact" to promote Europe's struggling economy and create jobs. Merkel has embraced promoting growth, but rejects any kind of fiscal stimulus. -By William Boston, Dow Jones Newswires; +49 30 2888 4128; William.Boston@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires May 07, 2012 08:35 ET (12:35 GMT)