Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, has said she would welcome Francois Hollande, the French president-elect, "with open arms" and that the two leaders will be working together closely.

"We will work together well and intensively and we will meet quite soon after [he enters office]," Merkel told a news conference today.

"I may say from my side that Francois Hollande will be welcomed with open arms here in Germany by me," said Merkel, who publicly backed President Nicolas Sarkozy during the election campaign.