The plane carrying newly installed French President Francois Hollande to Germany is heading back to France after it was struck by lighting.

French officials say the plane turned around and is now returning to Paris.

Mr. Hollande's visit to Berlin for key talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel was his first order of business Tuesday after he officially took office following a modest and rain-soaked ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

During his nationally televised inaugural speech, Mr. Hollande promised “a new path” for France, emphasizing growth, justice and what he described as “social democracy.” That approach contrasts greatly with that of the German chancellor, who has pushed for strict austerity measures to help tighten Europe's shaky economy.

Before leaving Paris, Mr. Hollande named Jean-Marc Ayrault as prime minister. The parliamentary leader of the Socialist party speaks German. He is expected to name his Cabinet Wednesday.

Mr. Hollande defeated former president Nicolas Sarkozy in a runoff election last week, becoming the country's first Socialist president since Francois Mitterrand in 1995.

Mr. Hollande is expected to push Germany to renegotiate the recent eurozone treaty imposing budget austerity among its 17 member nations. Mr. Hollande is calling for a greater emphasis on growth, but the German leader says the pact is non-negotiable.

Political analyst Tanja Boerzel with the Free University of Berlin says despite the stark political differences, Mr. Hollande and Ms. Merkel may be able to find some common ground.

“I think the German government will be open for suggestions for two reasons. First, Angela Merkel is a pragmatic person who knows that she needs Francois Hollande to further manage the Euro crisis. And second, the German government acknowledged that austerity is not the only way to overcome the crisis.”

Newsweek Paris Bureau Chief Christopher Dickey says both leaders have a lot at stake.

“When Hollande meets Merkel, they both have have to come away with a sense of victory, or with something that they can portray as a victory. She comes away saying 'we're keeping the stability pact.' He comes away saying 'ok, we're keeping the stability pact but we are going to negotiate a new growth pact.' This is something that the European Central Bank wants, something that many other European governments want. It is not out there, it is not a wild socialist dream. And I think he'll probably get it, or some variation on it.”

Mr. Hollande's election comes as the eurozone economy posted zero growth in the first three months of 2012 and avoided a recession. Experts had predicted the region's economy would shrink by 0.3 percent for the first quarter.

Later in the week, Mr. Hollande flies to the United States where he will meet with President Barack Obama at the White House on Friday before attending a Group of Eight summit at the presidential retreat outside Washington, and a NATO summit in Chicago.

(( ###

1. (German) Tanja Boerzel, political analyst at Free University of Berlin:

“I think the German government will be open for suggestions for two reasons. First, Angela Merkel is a pragmatic person who knows that she needs Francois Hollande to further manage the Euro crisis. And second, the German government acknowledged that austerity is not the only way to overcome the crisis. Growth and employment needs to be in the focus right now. Now we have to deal with the question how we can provide growth and employment without jeopardizing the consolidation of the budget.”

2. SOUNDBITE (English) Christopher Dickey, Paris Bureau Chief of Newsweek:

“When Hollande meets Merkel, they both have have to come away with a sense of victory, or with something that they can portray as a victory. She comes away saying 'we're keeping the stability pact'. He comes away saying 'ok, we're keeping the stability pact but we are going to negotiate a new growth pact'. This is something that the European Central Bank wants, something that many other European governments want. It is not out there, it is not a wild socialist dream. And I think he'll probably get it, or some variation on it.”

3. (English) Christopher Dickey, Paris Bureau Chief of Newsweek:

“Much of the conversation about the stability pact takes place in a context in which it sounds like a it's a done deal, but it's not a done deal. There are lots of countries out there who signed up for it who are not ready to ratify it and probably will never ratify it. So, Hollande is in a much stronger position politically than he had seemed to be even a few weeks ago. And I think he's going to let Angela Merkel know that.”

4. (English) Tanja Boerzel, political analyst at Free University of Berlin:

“I think what Merkel and Hollande will certainly do is have a friendly exchange about their ideas and how to complement rather then to re-negotiate the fiscal pact. Beyond that I don't expect any specific outcome of that meeting. As Hollande already announced there will be a cordial meeting. One will exchange ideas but the real discussions about how to foster growth will be postponed until the informal summit of the European Council.”