BERLIN, April 23 - ChancellorAngela Merkelcontinues to support French PresidentNicolas Sarkozy's re-election bid but has no plans to travel toFranceto campaign for him before a second round runoff next month, a German government spokesman said.
"As far as campaign appearances go, I am not aware of any plans. This is President Sarkozy’s election campaign, not that of the German chancellor," deputy spokesmanGeorg Streitertold a regular news conference on Monday.
"The chancellor continues to support President Sarkozy," he added, noting that German and French leaders had worked well together in the post-war period regardless of who was in power.
Sarkozy came in a close second to Socialist frontrunner Francois Hollande in a first round vote on Sunday and the two will now face off against each other on May 6th.
Back in January, Merkel’sconservative partyannounced that she would "actively support" Sarkozy’s re-election campaign and that the two were planning several joint appearances.
But in the run-up to the first round vote, Sarkozy shifted the focus of his campaign, de-emphasising ties withBerlinin favour of more populist themes like immigration and security.
