France has a new President

[amerriaz]

Socialist Francois Hollande wins French presidency

French socialist Francois Hollande has won a clear victory in the country's presidential election.

Mr Hollande - who got an estimated 52% of votes in Sunday's run-off - said the French had chosen "change".

Admitting defeat, centre-right incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy wished "good luck" to Mr Hollande.

Analysts say the vote has wide implications for the whole eurozone. Mr Hollande has vowed to rework a deal on government debt in member countries.

Shortly after polls closed at 20:00 (18:00), French media published projections based on partial results giving Mr Hollande a lead of almost four points.

Nicolas Sarkozy says Francois Hollande must be respected as the new president
Exuberant Hollande supporters gathered on Place de la Bastille in Paris - a traditional rallying point of the Left - to celebrate.

Mr Hollande - the first socialist to win the French presidency since Francois Mitterrand in the 1980s - gave his victory speech in his stronghold of Tulle in central France.

He said was "proud to have been capable of giving people hope again".

He said he would push ahead with his pledge to refocus EU fiscal efforts from austerity to "growth".

"Europe is watching us, austerity can no longer be the only option," he said.

Analysis

Katya Adler
Sarkozy HQ
In his speech Mr Sarkozy appeared to want to confound all the labels that haunted him while France's president. He was said to be arrogant. Tonight he appeared humble.

He was said to be president of the elite only. Tonight he came across as president of the people, thanking all those who had supported him and appealing for unity across France.

And another role reversal: swept to power as president five years ago on a popular mandate for change, this bulldog of French politics tonight became the underdog.

The question now is what happens to his party. Will there be a fight for the political right in France. The far-right hopes to make huge gains in the June legislative elections thanks to Mr Sarkozy's defeat tonight.

Mr Hollande has called for a renegotiation of a hard-won European treaty on budget discipline championed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Mr Sarkozy.

'Respect'
Mr Hollande capitalised on the country's economic woes and President Sarkozy's unpopularity.

The socialist candidate has promised to raise taxes on big corporations and people earning more than 1m euros a year.

He wants to raise the minimum wage, hire 60,000 more teachers and lower the retirement age from 62 to 60 for some workers.

In his concession speech, Mr Sarkozy told supporters: "Francois Hollande is the president of France and he must be respected."

The outgoing president said he was "taking responsibility for defeat".

Hinting about his future, he said: "My place will no longer be the same. My involvement in the life of my country will now be different."

During the campaign, he had said he would leave politics if he lost the election.

EARLY RESULTS
SOURCE: TNS SOFRES SOPRA GROUPE
Share
Vote
F. Hollande
52%
Projection
N. Sarkozy
48%
Mr Sarkozy, who has been in office since 2007, had promised to reduce France's large budget deficit through spending cuts.

It is only the second time an incumbent president has failed to win re-election since the start of France's Fifth Republic in 1958.

The last was Valery Giscard d'Estaing, who lost to Mr Mitterrand in 1981.

The new president is expected to be inaugurated later this month.

A parliamentary election is due in June.

SOURCE

amerriaz Reviewed by amerriaz on 6th May 2012. France has a new President Socialist Francois Hollande wins French presidency http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/60068000/jpg/_60068573_hollande_ap.jpg French socialist Francois Hollande has won a clear victory in the country's presidential election. Mr Hollande - who got an estimated 52% of votes in Sunday's run-off - said the French had chosen "change". Admitting defeat, centre-right incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy wished "good luck" to Mr Hollande. Rating: 5

[masterbator]

viva socialism!

[foxman]

Oh, will miss Mrs Sarkozy

[mananggi]

Oh, will miss Mrs Sarkozy

hahahaha not when lately she looks like this http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/ar...ce-stress.html

but looking like this lol
http://lemonsblack.com/wp-content/up...rla_bruni2.jpg

[Cometolearn]

too sexy ur president was Mr Sarkozy, lol , just wondering . good luck with new president