Op-ed: Europe's future depends on France

Europe was focused yesterday's elections in France. François Hollande won his primary and hopes to become Prime Minister of France once the next elections take place.

The presidential candidate if faced with the challenge of driving growth in his country, working with Germany to get reforms from the ECB and helping to create an environment for change in the EU. This environment would need to artfully combine plans for both austerity and growth in the midst of an economic crisis that is quickly burning through European leaders.

Hollande needs to be wary of tax increases, because they could endanger France's financial stability. And meanwhile he shouldn't forget his country's influence: the European Union's future depends on France.