François Hollande: Difference between revisions
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{{redirect|Hollande||Holland (disambiguation)}} |
{{redirect|Hollande||Holland (disambiguation)}} |
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}} |
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{{Infobox officeholder |
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|name = François Hollande |
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|image = François Hollande (Journées de Nantes 2012).jpg |
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|office = [[President of France]] |
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|primeminister = [[Jean-Marc Ayrault]]<br>[[Manuel Valls]] |
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|term_start = 15 May 2012 |
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|term_end = |
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|predecessor = [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] |
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|successor = |
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|office1 = [[Co-Princes of Andorra|Co-Prince of Andorra]] |
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|alongside1 = [[Joan Enric Vives Sicília]] |
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|primeminister1 = [[Antoni Martí]] |
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|1blankname1 = Representative |
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|1namedata1 = [[Sylvie Hubac]]<br>Thierry Lataste |
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|term_start1 = 15 May 2012 |
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|term_end1 = |
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|predecessor1 = [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] |
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|successor1 = |
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|office2 = [[List of Presidents of Corrèze General Council|President of the Corrèze General Council]] |
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|term_start2 = 20 March 2008 |
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|term_end2 = 15 May 2012 |
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|predecessor2 = [[Jean-Pierre Dupont]] |
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|successor2 = Gérard Bonnet |
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|office3 = [[First Secretary of the French Socialist Party|First Secretary of the Socialist Party]] |
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|term_start3 = 27 November 1997 |
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|term_end3 = 27 November 2008 |
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|predecessor3 = [[Lionel Jospin]] |
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|successor3 = [[Martine Aubry]] |
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|office4 = [[List of mayors of Tulle|Mayor of Tulle]] |
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|term_start4 = 17 March 2001 |
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|term_end4 = 17 March 2008 |
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|predecessor4 = [[Raymond-Max Aubert]] |
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|successor4 = [[Bernard Combes]] |
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|office5 = Member of the [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]]<br>for [[Corrèze's 1st Constituency]] |
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|term_start5 = 12 June 1997 |
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|term_end5 = 15 May 2012 |
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|predecessor5 = [[Raymond-Max Aubert]] |
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|successor5 = [[Sophie Dessus]] |
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|term_start6 = 12 June 1988 |
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|term_end6 = 17 May 1993 |
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|predecessor6 = [[French legislative election, 1986|Proportional Representation]] |
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|successor6 = [[Raymond-Max Aubert]] |
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|birthname = François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande |
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|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1954|08|12|df=y}} |
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|birth_place = [[Rouen]], [[Seine-Maritime]], France |
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|death_date = |
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|death_place = |
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|party = [[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]] |
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|partner = [[Ségolène Royal]] {{small|(1978–2007)}}<br>[[Valérie Trierweiler]] {{small|(2007–2014)}} |
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|children = Thomas<br>Clémence<br>Julien<br>Flora |
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|residence = [[Élysée Palace]] |
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|alma_mater = [[HEC Paris]]<br>[[Sciences Po]]<br>[[École nationale d'administration]] |
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|signature = François Hollande signature.svg |
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|website = [https://www.facebook.com/francoishollande.fr Official facebook] |
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}} |
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'''François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande''' ({{IPA-fr|fʁɑ̃swa ɔlɑ̃d}}; born 12 August 1954) is a [[France|French]] [[politician]] who has been the [[President of France]] since [[French presidential election, 2012|2012]]. |
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Hollande was previously the [[First Secretary of the French Socialist Party]] from 1997 to 2008, the [[Mayor (France)|Mayor of]] [[Tulle]] from 2001 to 2008 and the [[List of Presidents of Corrèze General Council|President of the]] [[Corrèze General Council]] from 2008 to 2012. He also served in the [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]] twice as a representative of [[Corrèze]] from 1988 to 1993 and 1997 to 2012. |
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==Early life and education== |
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Hollande was born in [[Rouen]] to a middle-class family. His mother, Nicole Frédérique Marguerite Tribert (1927–2009), was a [[social worker]], and his father, Georges Gustave Hollande, an [[Otolaryngology|ear, nose, and throat doctor]] who "had once run for the [[Far-right in France|far right]] in local politics."<ref>{{cite news|author=Angelique Chrisafis in Le Bourget |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jan/22/francois-hollande-socialist-french-elections |title=Francois Hollande stages first major rally in 2012 French presidential race | World news |work=The Guardian |accessdate=6 May 2012 |location=London |date=22 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/oct/16/french-presidential-election-sarkozy-hollande | location=London |work=The Guardian | first1=Kim | last1=Willsher | title=French presidential election: Nicolas Sarkozy v François Hollande | date=16 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/election-presidentielle-2012/en-images-francois-hollande-une-carriere-au-parti-socialiste-17-10-2011-1657616.php |title=EN IMAGES. François Hollande, une carrière au parti socialiste – Presidentielle 2012 |publisher=leParisien.fr |language=French|accessdate=3 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Email Us |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/weekend/2012/0421/1224315001448.html |title=We all know Sarko, but who's the other guy? |work=The Irish Times |date=21 April 2012 |accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/europe/2012/02/hollande-france-french-sarkozy |title=The NS Profile: François Hollande |work=New Statesman |accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref> Hollande was raised [[Catholicism|Catholic]], but became an [[Agnosticism|agnostic]] in later life,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.directmatin.fr/article/27399|title=Prince et chanoine : les nouveaux métiers de Hollande|publisher=Direct Matin |accessdate=2012-06-18}}</ref> and now considers himself as an atheist<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europe1.fr/Politique/Francois-Hollande-un-athee-tres-discret-1780573/|title=François Hollande, un athée très discret|last1=Duchemin |first1=Rémi|date=23 January 2014|website=Europe1.fr|publisher=Europe 1|accessdate= 13 July 2014|language=fr}}</ref> (In December 2011, Hollande told the French Christian magazine ''[[La Vie]]'' that he respects all religious practices but has none of his own.<ref name="origines">{{cite news | first = Olivia | last = Elkaïm | title = François Hollande : des origines protestantes hollandaises | date = 5 April 2012 | url = http://www.lavie.fr/actualite/france/francois-hollande-des-origines-protestantes-hollandaises-04-05-2012-27124_4.php | work = [[La Vie]] | accessdate = 3 February 2013 | language = French}} ("En décembre dernier, François Hollande confiait à La Vie : 'Je n'ai aucune pratique religieuse. Mais je respecte toutes les confessions. La mienne est de ne pas en avoir.'")</ref>) The family moved to [[Neuilly-sur-Seine]], a highly exclusive suburb of Paris, when Hollande was 13.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thomaswhite.com/global-perspectives/francois-hollande-president-france/ |title=Global Players: Francois Hollande | Thomas White International |publisher=Thomaswhite.com |accessdate=15 May 2012}}</ref> |
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He attended Saint-Jean-Baptiste-de-la-Salle boarding school, a private Catholic school in Rouen, then [[HEC Paris]], the [[Institut d'études politiques de Paris]] (Paris Institute of Political Studies), and the [[École nationale d'administration]]. He graduated from ENA in 1980<ref>{{cite news|author=Sponsored by |url=http://www.economist.com/node/21549976 |title=The French elite: Old school ties |work=The Economist |accessdate=6 May 2012 |date=10 March 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hec.fr/Grande-Ecole/FAQ |title=HEC Paris – Grande Ecole – Foire aux questions |language= fr |publisher=Hec.fr |accessdate=3 January 2012}}</ref> and chose to enter the prestigious [[Cour des comptes]]. He lived in the United States in the summer of 1974 while he was a university student.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/15/magazine/the-soft-middle-of-francois-hollande.html|title=The Soft Middle of François Hollande|last=Erlanger|first=Steven|date=15 April 2012|work=The New York Times|page=50|accessdate=7 May 2012}}</ref> Immediately after graduating, he was employed as a councillor in the [[Court of Audit of France|Court of Audit]]. |
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==Early political career== |
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After volunteering as a student to work for [[François Mitterrand]]'s ultimately unsuccessful campaign in the [[French presidential election, 1974|1974 presidential election]], Hollande joined the [[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist Party]] five years later. He was quickly spotted by [[Jacques Attali]], a senior adviser to Mitterrand, who arranged for Hollande to stand for election to the [[French National Assembly]] in [[French legislative election, 1981|1981]] in Corrèze against future [[President of France|President]] [[Jacques Chirac]], who was then the Leader of the [[Rally for the Republic]], a [[Neo-Gaullist]] party. Hollande lost to Chirac in the first round. |
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He went on to become a special advisor to newly elected President Mitterrand, before serving as a staffer for [[Max Gallo]], the government's spokesman. After becoming a municipal [[councillor]] for [[Ussel, Corrèze|Ussel]] in 1983, he contested [[Corrèze]] for a second time in [[French legislative election, 1988|1988]], this time being elected to the National Assembly. Hollande lost his bid for re-election to the National Assembly in the so-called "blue wave" of the [[French legislative election, 1993|1993 election]], described as such due to the number of seats gained by the Right at the expense of the Socialist Party. |
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==First Secretary of the Socialist Party== |
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[[File:François Hollande.jpg|thumb|upright|left|François Hollande in 2004]] |
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[[File:Socialist rally Zenith 2007 05 29 n2.jpg|thumb|left|upright|Hollande with his former partner [[Ségolène Royal]], at a rally for the [[French legislative election, 2007|2007 elections]]]] |
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As the end of Mitterrand's term in office approached, the Socialist Party was torn by a struggle of internal factions, each seeking to influence the direction of the party. Hollande pleaded for reconciliation and for the party to unite behind [[Jacques Delors]], the [[president of the European Commission]], but Delors renounced his ambitions to run for the French presidency in [[French presidential election, 1995|1995]], leading to [[Lionel Jospin]]'s resuming his earlier position as the leader of the party. Jospin selected Hollande to become the official party spokesman, and Hollande went on to contest [[Corrèze]] once again in [[French legislative election, 1997|1997]], successfully returning to the National Assembly. |
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That same year, Jospin became the [[prime minister of France]], and Hollande won the election for his successor as [[Socialist Party (France)#Leadership|first secretary of the]] [[French Socialist Party]], a position he would hold for eleven years. Because of the very strong position of the Socialist Party within the [[French government]] during this period, Hollande's position led some to refer to him the "vice prime minister". Hollande would go on to be elected [[Mayor (France)|mayor]] of [[Tulle]] in 2001, an office he would hold for the next seven years. |
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The immediate resignation of Jospin from politics following his [[French presidential election, 2002|shock defeat]] by far-right candidate [[Jean-Marie Le Pen]] in the first round of the [[French presidential election, 2002|2002 presidential election]] forced Hollande to become the public face of the party for the [[French legislative election, 2002|2002 legislative election]] but, although he managed to limit defeats and was re-elected in [[Corrèze's 1st Constituency|his own constituency]], the Socialists lost nationally. In order to prepare for the 2003 party congress in [[Dijon]], he obtained the support of many notable personalities of the party and was re-elected first secretary against opposition from left-wing factions. |
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After the triumph of the Left in the [[French regional elections, 2004|2004 regional elections]], Hollande was cited as a potential presidential candidate, but the Socialists were divided on the [[European Constitution]], and Hollande's support for the ill-fated "Yes" position in the [[French European Constitution referendum, 2005|French referendum on the European constitution]] caused friction within the party. Although Hollande was re-elected as first secretary at the [[Le Mans Congress]] in 2005, his authority over the party began to decline from this point onwards. Eventually his domestic partner, [[Ségolène Royal]], was chosen to represent the Socialist Party in the [[French presidential election, 2007|2007 presidential election]], where she would lose to [[Nicolas Sarkozy]]. |
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Hollande was widely blamed for the poor performances of the Socialist Party in the [[French legislative election, 2007|2007 elections]], and he announced that he would not seek another term as first secretary. Hollande publicly declared his support for [[Bertrand Delanoë]], the [[mayor of Paris]], although it was [[Martine Aubry]] who would go on to win the race to succeed him in 2008. |
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Following his resignation as first secretary, Hollande was immediately elected to replace [[Jean-Pierre Dupont]] as the president [[General councils of France|of the General Council]] [[Corrèze|of Corrèze]] in April 2008, a position he holds to this day. In 2008 he supported the creation of the first European Prize for Local History ([[Étienne Baluze]] Prize), founded by the "Société des amis du musée du cloître" of [[Tulle]], on the suggestion of the French historian Jean Boutier. François Hollande awarded the first prize on 29 February 2008 to the Italian historian Beatrice Palmero in the General Council of Corrèze. |
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==2012 presidential campaign== |
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{{Infobox manner of address |
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| name = François Hollande |
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| image = [[File:Armoiries république française.svg|x50px]] |
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| reference = ''Son Excellence<br />(His Excellency)'' |
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| spoken = ''Monsieur le Président'' |
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| religion = |
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| posthumous = |
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| alternative = |
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}} |
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{{Infobox monarch styles |
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| royal name = François Hollande |
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| image = [[File:Coat of arms of Andorra.svg|x50px]] |
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| dipstyle = ''Excel·lentíssim Senyor<br />(The Most Excellent)'' |
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| offstyle = ''Excel·lentíssim Senyor'' |
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}} |
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{{main|François Hollande presidential campaign, 2012}} |
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{{See also|French presidential election, 2012}} |
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Following his re-election as [[List of Presidents of Corrèze General Council|president of the General Council of Corrèze]] in March 2011, Hollande announced that he would be a candidate in the upcoming [[French Socialist Party presidential primary, 2011|primary election]] to select the [[French Socialist Party|Socialist]] and [[Radical Left Party]] presidential nominee.<ref>{{cite news|last=Albinet|first=Alain|title=L'appel de Tulle de François Hollande|url=http://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2011/03/31/l-appel-de-tulle-de-francois-hollande_1501495_823448.html|accessdate=29 June 2011|newspaper=[[Le Monde]]|date=31 March 2011|language=French}}</ref> The primary marked the first time that both parties had held an open primary to select a joint nominee at the same time. He initially trailed the front-runner, former finance minister and [[International Monetary Fund]] managing director [[Dominique Strauss-Kahn]]. |
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Following Strauss-Kahn's [[Dominique Strauss-Kahn sexual assault case|arrest on suspicion of sexual assault]] in New York City in May 2011, Hollande began to lead the opinion polls. His position as front-runner was established just as Strauss-Kahn declared that he would no longer be seeking the nomination. After a series of televised debates throughout September, Hollande topped the ballot in the first round held on 9 October with 39% of the vote, not gaining the 50% required to avoid a second ballot, which he would contest against [[Martine Aubry]], who had come second with 30% of the vote. |
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The second ballot took place on 16 October 2011. Hollande won with 56% of the vote to Aubry's 43% and thus became the official Socialist and Radical Left Party candidate for the [[French presidential election, 2012|2012 presidential election]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=French Unions in National Strike on Pensions |first=Steven |last=Erlanger |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/08/world/europe/08france.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=7 September 2010 |page=A4 |accessdate=4 December 2010 |quote=[Socialist party leader Martine] Aubry has presidential ambitions... Her rivals included the former leader of the party, François Hollande....}}</ref> After the primary results, he immediately gained the pledged support of the other contenders for the party's nomination, including Aubry, [[Arnaud Montebourg]], [[Manuel Valls]] and 2007 candidate [[Ségolène Royal]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Hollande to run for presidency for French left |first=Brian |last=Love |url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/16/us-france-election-idUSTRE79F02T20111016 |agency=Reuters |date=16 September 2011 |accessdate=16 October 2011}}</ref> |
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Hollande's presidential campaign was managed by [[Pierre Moscovici]] and [[Stéphane Le Foll]], a member of Parliament and [[Member of the European Parliament]] respectively.<ref>{{cite web|last=Botella|first=Bruno|title=François Hollande recrute deux préfets pour sa campagne|url=http://nominations.acteurspublics.com/focus/16-11-11/francois-hollande-recrute-deux-prefets-pour-sa-campagne|publisher=acteurs publics|accessdate=18 February 2012|language=fr}}</ref> Hollande launched his campaign officially with a rally and major speech at [[Le Bourget]] on 22 January 2012 in front of 25,000 people.<ref name=hollandebourgetnyt>{{cite news|last=Erlanger|first=Steven|title=François Hollande, Challenging Sarkozy, Calls for Change|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/23/world/europe/francois-hollande-challenging-sarkozy-calls-for-change.html|accessdate=18 February 2012|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=22 January 2012}}</ref><ref name=hollandebourgethp>{{cite news|last=Clavel|first=Geoffroy|title=François Hollande, French Presidential Candidate, Says 'Finance' Is His Adversary|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/23/francois-hollande-tk_n_1222529.html|accessdate=18 February 2012|newspaper=[[Huffington Post]]|date=22 January 2012}}</ref> The main themes of his speech were equality and the regulation of finance, both of which he promised to make a key part of his campaign.<ref name=hollandebourgethp /> |
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On 26 January, he outlined a full list of policies in a manifesto containing 60 propositions, including the separation of retail activities from riskier investment-banking businesses; raising taxes on big corporations, banks and the wealthy; creating 60,000 teaching jobs; bringing the official retirement age back down to 60 from 62; creating subsidised jobs in areas of high unemployment for the young; promoting more industry in France by creating a public investment bank; granting marriage and adoption rights to same-sex couples; and pulling French troops out of Afghanistan in 2012.<ref name=hollande26nyt>{{cite news|last=Erlanger|first=Steven|title=Sarkozy's Main Rival Offers Proposals for Lifting France's Economy|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/world/europe/in-france-francois-hollande-offers-plan-to-revive-economy.html?_r=1|accessdate=18 February 2012|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=26 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Presidential program – François Hollande|url=http://www.scribd.com/doc/79434607/Projet-Presidentiel-Francois-Hollande|accessdate=18 February 2012}}</ref> On 9 February, he detailed his policies specifically relating to education in a major speech in [[Orléans]].<ref>{{cite news|language=French|last= Laubacher|first=Paul|title=Éducation : François Hollande fait de l'école primaire une priorité|newspaper=[[Le Nouvel Observateur]]|date=10 February 2013|url=http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/election-presidentielle-2012/20120210.OBS1055/education-francois-hollande-fait-de-l-ecole-primaire-une-priorite.html|accessdate=18 February 2012}}</ref> |
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On 15 February, incumbent [[President of France|president]] [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] announced that he would run for a second and final term, strongly criticising Hollande's proposals and claiming that he would bring about "economic disaster within two days of taking office" if he won.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2009/07/08/01002-20090708ARTFIG00007-sarkozy-se-voit-a-l-elysee-pour-encore-sept-ans-et-demi-.php |title=Politique : Sarkozy se voit à l'Élysée pour encore "sept ans et demi" |work=Le Figaro |accessdate=14 April 2012}}</ref> |
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Hollande visited Berlin, Germany, in December 2011 for the [[Social Democrats]] Federal Party Congress, at which he met [[Sigmar Gabriel]], [[Peer Steinbrück]], [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]] and [[Martin Schulz]];<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spd.de/aktuelles/News/70360/20120326_interview_hollande_gabriel.html |title="Gemeinsam eine Menge bewegen" | Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD) |language=de |publisher=Spd.de |accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Traynor |first=Ian |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/french-election-blog-2012/2012/mar/26/merkozy-fran-ois-hollande-german |title=Roll over, Merkozy: François Hollande finds a German ally of his own | World news |work=The Guardian |date=26 March 2012 |accessdate=6 May 2012 |location=London}}</ref> he also travelled to Belgium before the United Kingdom in February 2012, where he met with [[Leader of the Opposition (UK)|Opposition Leader]] [[Ed Miliband]]; and finally Tunisia in May 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20110524-francois-hollande-visite-tunisie |title=François Hollande en visite en Tunisie – France / Tunisie – RFI |publisher=Radio France Internationale |accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/18/francois-hollande-wont-change-europe |title=Cheer for François Hollande in France. But he won't change Europe | Comment is free |work=The Guardian |date=28 September 2007 |accessdate=6 May 2012 |location=London}}</ref> |
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Opinion polls showed a tight race between the two men in the first round of voting, with most polls showing Hollande comfortably ahead of Sarkozy in a hypothetical second round run-off.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opinion-way.com/pdf/opinionway_fiducial_pour_radio_classique_les_echos_vague_4_-_mars_2012.pdf |title=4 March 2012 – Opinion Way |format=PDF |accessdate=19 April 2012}}</ref> |
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The first round of the presidential election was held on 22 April. François Hollande came in first place with 28.63% of the vote, and faced Nicolas Sarkozy in the second round run-off.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/election-resultats |title=Elections Présidentielle Résultats |publisher=FRANCE 24 |date=22 April 2012 |accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref> In the second round of voting on 6 May 2012, François Hollande was elected President of the French Republic with 51.7% of the vote.<ref name="france1">{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/france/2min/20120506-france-socialist-hollande-wins-presidential-election-sarkozy |title=Socialist Hollande triumphs in French presidential poll – FRENCH ELECTIONS 2012 |publisher=FRANCE 24 |accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref> |
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==President of France, 2012–present== |
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[[File:PR-2012-05-15 IMG 1620.jpg|thumb|Hollande (right) and outgoing President [[Nicolas Sarkozy]] at [[Élysée Palace]] on inauguration day, 15 May 2012]] |
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François Hollande was elected [[President of France]] on 6 May 2012. He was inaugurated on 15 May, and shortly afterwards appointed [[Jean-Marc Ayrault]] to be his [[Prime Minister of France|Prime Minister]]. He also appointed [[Benoît Puga]] to be the military's chief of staff, [[Pierre-René Lemas]] as his general secretary and Pierre Besnard as his Head of Cabinet.<ref name="cabinet">[http://www.elysee.fr/president/la-presidence/le-fonctionnement-de-la-presidence/le-cabinet-du-president-de-la-republique/le-cabinet-du-president-de-la-republique.13214.html Le cabinet du Président de la République ] elysee.fr 15 May 2012</ref> On his first official visit to a foreign country in his capacity as president of France, the airplane transporting him was hit by [[lightning]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18074342 |title=Hollande's plane hit by lightning, reports say – BBC News Europe |publisher=BBC |date=15 May 2012 |accessdate=16 June 2013}}</ref> The plane returned safely to Paris where he took another flight to Germany. The first measures he took were to lower the income of the president, the prime minister, and other members of the government by 30%, and to make them sign a "code of ethics".<ref>{{cite news|title=France: Hollande réunit son gouvernement, baisse son salaire de 30%|url=http://www.leparisien.fr/flash-actualite-monde/france-hollande-reunit-son-gouvernement-baisse-son-salaire-de-30-17-05-2012-2004884.php|accessdate=2 February 2013|newspaper=[[Le Parisien]]|date=17 May 2012}}</ref> |
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===Budget=== |
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Hollande's economic policies are wide-ranging, including supporting the creation of a European [[credit rating agency]], the separation of lending and investment in banks, reducing the share of electricity generated by [[nuclear power in France]] from 75 to 50% in favour of [[renewable energy]] sources, merging [[income tax]] and the [[Taxation in France|General Social Contribution (CSG)]], creating an additional 45% for additional income of 150,000 euros, capping tax loopholes at a maximum of €10,000 per year, and questioning the relief [[solidarity tax on wealth]] (ISF, ''Impôt de Solidarité sur la Fortune'') measure that should bring €29 billion in additional revenue. Hollande has also signalled his intent to implement a 75% income tax rate on revenue earned above 1,000,000 euros per year, to generate the provision of development funds for deprived suburbs, and to return to a deficit of zero percent of GDP by 2017.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9042741/Francois-Hollande-outlines-manifesto-for-French-presidency-challenge.html |title=François Hollande outlines manifesto for French presidency challenge – Telegraph |work=The Daily Telegraph |accessdate=6 May 2012 |location=London |first=Henry |last=Samuel |date=26 January 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Le Figaro |url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-eco/2012/01/26/97002-20120126FILWWW00727-hollande-equilibre-impossible-sans-croissance.php |title="2% de croissance": Hollande s'explique |accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref> The tax plan has proven controversial, with courts ruling it unconstitutional in 2012, only to then take the opposite position on a redrafted version in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|last=Fouquet |first=Helene |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-12-29/french-court-says-75-tax-rate-on-wealthy-is-unconstitutional.html |title=French Court Says 75% Tax Rate on the Rich Is Unconstitutional |publisher=Bloomberg |date=29 December 2012 |accessdate=16 June 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Petroff |first=Alanna |url=http://money.cnn.com/2013/12/30/news/economy/french-tax-75/ |title=France's 75% 'millionaire tax' to become law |publisher=Money.cnn.com |date=2013-12-30 |accessdate=2014-08-26}}</ref> |
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Hollande has also announced several reforms to education, pledging to recruit 60,000 new teachers, to create a study allowance and means-tested training, and to set up a mutually beneficial contract that would allow a generation of experienced employees and craftsmen to be the guardians and teachers of younger newly hired employees, thereby creating a total of 150,000 subsidized jobs. This has been complemented by the promise of aid to [[Small and medium enterprises|SMEs]], with the creation of a public bank investment-oriented SME's, and a reduction of the [[corporate tax]] rate to 30% for medium corporations and 15% for small. |
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Hollande's government has announced plans to construct 500,000 public homes per year, including 150,000 [[Public housing in France|social houses]], funded by a doubling of the ceiling of the [[Passbook|A passbook]], the [[Regions of France|region]] making available its [[local government#France|local government]] land within five years. In accordance with long-standing Socialist Party policy, Hollande has announced that the [[retirement age]] will revert to 60, for those who have [[Pensions in France|contributed]] for more than 41 years. |
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===LGBT rights=== |
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{{Further|Law 2013-404}} |
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Hollande has also announced his personal support for [[same-sex marriage in France|same-sex marriage]] and [[LGBT adoption|adoption for LGBT couples]], and outlined plans to pursue the issue in early 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.queerty.com/unpopular-french-president-nicolas-sarkozy-desperately-woos-gay-rights-20120330/ |title=Unpopular French President Nicolas Sarkozy Desperately Woos Les Gais |publisher=Queerty.com |accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref> In July 2012, Prime Minister [[Jean-Marc Ayrault]] announced that "In the first half of 2013, the right to marriage and adoption will be open to all couples, without discrimination [...]", confirming this election promise by Hollande.<ref>[http://www.france24.com/en/20120703-gay-marriage-adoption-allowed-france-2013 ]{{dead link|date=October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|work=Le Figaro |url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/actualite-france/2012/07/03/01016-20120703ARTFIG00869-le-mariage-et-l-adoption-homosexuels-pour-debut-2013.php |title=Le mariage et l'adoption homosexuels pour début 2013 |accessdate=23 October 2012}}</ref> |
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The bill to legalize same-sex marriage, known as Bill no. 344, was introduced to the [[National Assembly of France]] on 7 November 2012. On 12 February 2013, the National Assembly approved the bill in a 329–229 vote.<ref>{{fr icon}} ''[http://www.leparisien.fr/politique/loi-sur-le-mariage-pour-tous-les-deputes-adoptent-l-article-1-02-02-2013-2534345.php Loi sur le mariage pour tous : les députés adoptent l'article 1].'' Retrieved 2 February 2013.</ref> The Right-wing opposed the bill. The [[Senate (France)|Senate]] approved the full bill with a 171–165 majority on 12 April with minor amendments. On 23 April, the National Assembly approved the amended bill, in a 331–225 vote, and following approval of the law by the [[Constitutional Council of France]], it was signed into law by President François Hollande on 18 May 2013, with the first same-sex weddings under the law taking place eleven days later.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.france24.com/en/20130517-france-constitutional-court-council-approves-gay-marriage-bill |title=French constitutional court approves gay-marriage bill |publisher=France 24 |date=17 May 2013 |accessdate=16 June 2013}}</ref> |
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===Labour reform=== |
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As President, Hollande pursued labor reform to make France more competitive internationally. Legislation was introduced in late 2012 and after much debate passed the French lower and upper house in May 2013. The bill includes measures such as making it easier for workers to change jobs and for companies to fire employees. One of the main measures of the bill allows companies to temporarily cut workers' salaries or hours during times of economic difficulty. This measure takes its inspiration from Germany, where furloughs have been credited with allowing companies to weather difficult times without resorting to massive layoffs. Another measure that aims to simplify the firing process. Layoffs in France are often challenged in courts and the cases can take years to resolve. Many companies cite the threat of lengthy court action – even more than any financial cost – as the most difficult part of doing business in France. The law shortens the time that employees have to contest a layoff and also lays out a scheme for severance pay. The government hopes this will help employees and companies reach agreement faster in contentious layoffs. Another key measure introduced are credits for training that follow employees throughout their career, regardless of where they work, and the right to take a leave of absence to work at another company. The law will also require all companies to offer and partially pay for supplemental health insurance. Lastly, the law also reforms unemployment insurance, so that someone out of work doesn't risk foregoing significant benefits when taking a job that might pay less than previous work or end up only being temporary. Under the new law, workers will be able to essentially put benefits on hold when they take temporary work, instead of seeing their benefits recalculated each time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.yahoo.com/france-approves-major-labor-reform-package-160144959.html |title= |
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France approves major labor reform package|publisher=http://www.ap.org/ |date=14 May 2013 |accessdate=4 January 2014}}</ref> |
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===Pension reform=== |
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As President, Hollande pursued reform to the vast and expensive pension system in France. The process proved to be very contentious, with members of Parliament, Labor Unions, and general public all opposed. Mass protests and demonstrations occurred throughout Paris. Despite all of the opposition, the French Parliament did pass a reform in December 2013 aimed at plugging a pension deficit expected to reach 20.7 billion euros ($28.4 billion) by 2020 if nothing is done. Rather than raising the manadatory retirement that many economists had advised, Hollande pursued increasing contributions and leaving the retirement age untouched. The reform had a rough ride in parliament, being rejected twice by the Senate, where Hollande's Socialist Party has a slim majority, before it won sufficient backing in a final vote before the lower house of parliament. French private sector workers will see the size and duration of their pension contributions increase only modestly under the reform while their retirement benefits are largely untouched.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/20393182/french-parliament-approves-pension-reform/ |title= French parliament approves pension reform|agency=Reuters |date=19 December 2013 |accessdate=4 January 2014}}</ref> Several scholars and economists argue the reform did not go far enough. |
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===Foreign affairs=== |
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[[File:Francois Hollande Bastille Day 2013 Paris t101747.jpg|thumb|Hollande reviews troops during the 2013 [[Bastille Day military parade]]]] |
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As President, Hollande promised an early withdrawal of French combat troops present in Afghanistan in 2012.<ref name=guardianAC1/><ref>{{cite news|last=Fouquet |first=Helene |url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-01-26/sarkozy-rival-hollande-may-seek-bank-split-in-election-platform.html |title=Socialist Hollande Pledges Tax Breaks End, Eased Pension Measure |publisher=Bloomberg |date=26 January 2012 |accessdate=6 May 2012}}</ref> He also pledged to conclude a new contract of [[France–Germany relations|Franco-German partnership]], advocating the adoption of a [[European Directive|Directive]] on the protection of public services. Hollande has proposed "an acceleration of the establishment of a Franco-German civic service, the creation of a Franco-German research office, the creation of a Franco-German industrial fund to finance common competitiveness clusters, and the establishment of a common military headquarters".<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|author=EurActiv.com, based on reporting by EurActiv.fr |url=http://www.euractiv.com/elections/fran-ois-hollande-european-new-deal-news-511108 |title=François Hollande: Towards a European 'New Deal'? |publisher=EurActiv |accessdate=6 May 2012}}{{Dead link|date=September 2014}}</ref> As well as this, Hollande has expressed a wish to "combine the positions of the presidents of the [[European Commission]] and of the [[European Council]] (currently held by [[José Manuel Barroso]] and [[Herman Van Rompuy]] respectively) into a single office...and that it should be directly chosen" by the [[Member of the European Parliament|members of the European Parliament]].<ref name=autogenerated1 /> Hollande made a [[state visit]] to the United States in February 2014; a state dinner was given in his honor by U.S. President [[Barack Obama]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/11/politics/gallery/france-state-visit/index.html?hpt=po_c2 |title=French President visits America |publisher=CNN.com |date= |accessdate=2014-08-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/02/11/politics/state-dinner/index.html?hpt=po_c2 |title=Politics with side of caviar: Obama welcomes Hollande at state dinner |publisher=CNN.com |date=2014-02-12 |accessdate=2014-08-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url = http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/francois-hollande/10629639/Francois-Hollande-arrives-in-United-States-No-more-freedom-fries-as-Obama-rolls-out-red-carpet.html|title=François Hollande arrives in United States: No more 'freedom fries' as Obama rolls out red carpet|date=10 February 2014|work=Daily Telegraph|accessdate=13 February 2014}}</ref> On 27 February 2014, Hollande was a special guest of honor in Abuja, received by Nigerian President [[Goodluck Jonathan]] in celebration of Nigeria's amalgamation in 1914, a 100 year anniversary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://m.news24.com/nigeria/National/News/Security-issues-dominate-as-Frances-Hollande-visits-Nigeria-20140227-9 |title=Security issues dominate as France's Hollande visits Nigeria | News24 Nigeria |publisher=M.news24.com |date=2014-02-27 |accessdate=2014-08-26}}</ref> |
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====Intervention in Mali==== |
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On 11 January 2013, Hollande authorised the execution of [[Operation Serval]], which aimed to curtail the activities of Islamist extremists in the north of Mali.<ref name=guardianAC1>{{cite news|last=Chrisafis|first=Angélique|title=Mali: high stakes in 'Hollande's war'|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/13/mali-high-stakes-francois-hollande|accessdate=2 February 2013|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=13 January 2013}}</ref> The intervention was popularly supported in Mali, as Hollande promised that his government would do all it could to "rebuild Mali".<ref>{{cite web|author=Andrew Harding |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21308310 |title=French President Hollande pledges to help rebuild Mali |publisher=BBC |date=2 February 2013 |accessdate=16 June 2013}}</ref> During his one-day visit to [[Bamako]], Mali's capital, on 2 February 2013, he said that it was "the most important day in [his] political life".<ref name=effect>{{cite news|title=The Bamako Effect|url=http://www.economist.com/news/europe/21571450-will-frances-intervention-mali-make-fran%C3%A7ois-hollande-popular-home-bamako-effect|newspaper=The Economist|date=9 February 2013}}</ref> In 2014 Hollande took some of these troops out of Mali and spread them over the rest of the Sahel under [[Operation Barkhane]], in an effort to curb jihadists militants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-28298230 |title=BBC News - France sets up anti-Islamist force in Africa's Sahel |publisher=Bbc.co.uk |date=2014-07-14 |accessdate=2014-08-26}}</ref> |
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===Co-Prince of Andorra=== |
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The President of the French Republic, two [[Co-Princes of Andorra|joint heads of state]] of the Principality of [[Andorra]]. Hollande hosted a visit from [[Antoni Martí]], [[List of heads of government of Andorra|head of the government]], and [[Vicenç Mateu Zamora]], leader of the [[General Council of Andorra|parliament]].<ref>[http://www.20minutes.fr/ledirect/977281/francois-hollande-co-prince-andorre-recoit-responsables-principaute "François Hollande, co-prince d'Andorre, reçoit des responsables de la principauté"], ''20 minutes'', 26 July 2012</ref><ref>[http://www.ambafrance-ad.org/Entretien-du-President-de-la "Entretien du Président de la République, M. François Hollande avec MM. Marti et Mateu, Chef du Gouvernement et Syndic Général de la Principauté d’Andorre"], French embassy to Andorra, 30 July 2012</ref> |
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===Approval ratings=== |
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An IFOP poll released in April 2014 showed that Hollande’s approval rating had dropped five points since the previous month of March to 18%, dipping below his earlier low of 20% in February during the very same year.<ref>http://www.ifop.fr/media/poll/2601-1-study_file.pdf</ref> In November 2014, his approval rating reached a new low of 12%, according to a YouGov poll.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Sage|first1=Alexandria|title=Hollande popularity plumbs new low in mid-term French poll|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/06/us-france-hollande-idUSKBN0IQ14R20141106|accessdate=7 November 2014|agency=Reuters|date=6 November 2014}}</ref> Following the [[Charlie Hebdo shooting|''Charlie Hebdo'' shooting]] in January 2015, however, approval for Hollande increased dramatically, reaching 40% according to an IFOP poll two weeks after the attack,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsweek.com/french-presidents-popularity-rating-doubles-following-charlie-hebdo-attacks-300518|title=French President’s Popularity Rating Doubles Following Paris Attacks|first=Damien|last=Sharkov|date=19 January 2015|access-date=11 February 2015|newspaper=Newsweek}}</ref> though an Ipsos-Le Point survey in early February showed his rating declining back to 30%.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/2015/02/09/uk-france-poll-hollande-idUKKBN0LD2CH20150209|title=Hollande, Valls approval ratings drop - poll|agency=Reuters|date=9 February 2015|accessdate=11 February 2015}}</ref> |
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==Personal life== |
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For over thirty years, his [[domestic partnership|partner]] was fellow Socialist politician [[Ségolène Royal]], with whom he has four children: Thomas (1984), Clémence (1985), Julien (1987) and Flora (1992). In June 2007, just a month after Royal's defeat in the [[French presidential election of 2007]], the couple announced that they were separating.<ref>{{Cite news |title=French Socialists' First Couple Disclose a Parting of Ways |first=Elaine |last=Sciolino |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/19/world/europe/19france.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=19 June 2007 |page=A3 |accessdate=4 December 2010 }}</ref> |
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A few months after his split from Ségolène Royal was announced, a French website published details of a relationship between Hollande and French journalist [[Valérie Trierweiler]]. In November 2007, Trierweiler confirmed and openly discussed her relationship with Hollande in an interview with the French weekly ''[[Télé 7 Jours]]''. She remained a reporter for the magazine ''[[Paris Match]]'', but ceased work on political stories. Trierweiler moved into the Élysée Palace with Hollande when he became president and started to accompany him on official travel.<ref> |
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[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25680726 The women in Francois Hollande's life] [[BBC News]] 10 January 2014</ref> |
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On 25 January 2014, Hollande officially announced his separation from Valérie Trierweiler<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.europe1.fr/Politique/Francois-Hollande-annonce-sa-rupture-avec-Valerie-Trierweiler-1782209/ |title=François Hollande annonce sa rupture avec Valérie Trierweiler - valérie trierweiler sur Europe1 |publisher=Europe1.fr |date=2014-04-29 |accessdate=2014-08-26}}</ref> after the tabloid magazine ''[[Closer (magazine)|Closer]]'' outed his affair with actress [[Julie Gayet]].<ref name="Pressure Mounts Against President Hollande">{{cite web | url=http://www.wwd.com/media-news/fashion-memopad/pressure-mounts-against-president-hollande-7361630?src=nl/mornReport/20140116 | title=Pressure Mounts Against President Hollande | work=Women's Wear Daily | date=16 January 2014 | accessdate=16 January 2014 | author=Alex Wynne and Laure Guilbault}}</ref> In September 2014 Trierweiler published a book about her time with Hollande titled ''Merci pour ce moment ([[Thank You for This Moment]]).'' The memoir claimed the president presented himself as disliking the rich, but in reality disliked the poor. The claim brought an angry reaction and rejection from Hollande, who said he had spent his life dedicated to the under-privileged.<ref name="HollandePoor">{{cite news|title=Upset Hollande hits back at former girlfriend's accusations|url=http://www.parisnews.net/index.php/sid/225439693|date=5 September 2014|accessdate=7 September 2014|publisher=''Paris News.Net''}}</ref> |
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==Honours and decorations== |
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===National honours=== |
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;" |
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|- |
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! style="width:80px;"| Ribbon bar !! Honour !! Date & Comment |
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|- |
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| [[File:Legion Honneur GC ribbon.svg|80px]] |
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| [[Grand Master (order)|Grand Master]] & [[Grand Cross]] of the National [[Chivalric order|Order]] of the [[Legion of Honour]] |
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| 15 May 2012 – automatic upon taking presidential office |
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|- |
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| [[File:National Order of Merit Grand Cross Ribbon.png|80px]] |
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| [[Grand Master (order)|Grand Master]] & [[Grand Cross]] of the [[National Order of Merit (France)|National Order of Merit]] |
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| 15 May 2012 – automatic upon taking presidential office |
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|} |
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=== Foreign honours === |
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{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%;" |
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|- |
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! style="width:80px;"| Ribbon bar !! Country !! Honour !! Date |
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|- |
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| [[File:POL Order Orła Białego BAR.svg|80px]] || [[Poland]] || Knight of the [[Order of the White Eagle (Poland)|Order of the White Eagle]] || 16 November 2012<ref>[http://www.prezydent.pl/gfx/prezydent/pl/defaultaktualnosci/9/2367/1/1719111607.jpg Orders exchange between Polish and French Presidents (photo)] – prezydent.pl</ref><ref>[http://www.elysee.fr/president/root/bank_objects/T6-D51K9414.jpg Orders exchange between Polish and French Presidents (photo)] – Knight Grand Cross Order of Merit of the Italian Republic elysee.fr</ref> |
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|- |
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| [[File:ITA OMRI 2001 GC-GCord BAR.svg|80px]] || [[Italy]] || Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]] || 21 November 2012.<ref>{{it icon}} Italian Presidency website, [http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/Continua.aspx?tipo=Foto&key=25645 Exchange of decorations between President Napolitano and President Hollande]</ref> |
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|- |
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| [[File:MCO Order of Saint-Charles - Grand Cross BAR.png|80px]] || [[Monaco]] || Grand Cross of the [[Order of Saint-Charles]] || 14 November 2013<ref>Sovereign Ordonnance [http://www.legimonaco.mc/Dataweb/jourmon.nsf/56ae81d1d4180496c12568ce002f290a/97a43024d5d7905ec1257c2a005604d6!OpenDocument n° 4575 of 14 november 2013]</ref> |
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|- |
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| [[File:Ordine del Re Abd al-Aziz.png|80px]] || [[Saudi Arabia]] || Chain of the [[Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud]] || 30 December 2013.<ref>{{fr icon}} BFMTV, [http://www.20minutes.fr/societe/1268399-20131230-20131230-hollande-petits-soins-milieux-affaires-saoudiens]</ref> |
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|- |
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| [[File:NLD Order of the Dutch Lion - Grand Cross BAR.png|80px]] || [[Netherlands]] || Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Netherlands Lion]] || 20 January 2014.<ref>{{nl icon}} Telegraaf, [http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/22226644/__Koning_krijgt_Franse_onderscheiding__.html Koning krijgt grootkruis van Legioen van Eer]</ref> |
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|- |
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| [[File:Order of the Bath (ribbon).svg|80px]] || [[United Kingdom]] || Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Bath]] || 5 June 2014.<ref>{{fr icon}} BFMTV, [http://www.bfmtv.com/international/debarquement-marathon-reine-elizabeth-ii-france-787073.html Débarquement: la visite millimétrée de la reine Elizabeth II en France]</ref> |
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|- |
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| [[File:Order of the Seraphim - Ribbon bar.svg|80px]] || [[Sweden]] || Knight of the [[Royal Order of the Seraphim]] || 2 December 2014.<ref>[http://www.elysee.fr/photos/entretien-avec-sa-majeste-le-roi-de-suede-carl-xvi-gustaf/]</ref> |
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|} |
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==Works== |
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Hollande has had a number of books and academic works published, including: |
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* ''L'Heure des choix. Pour une économie politique'' (''The hour of choices. For a political economy''), with Pierre Moscovici, 1991. ISBN 2-7381-0146-1 |
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* ''L'Idée socialiste aujourd'hui'' (''The Socialist Idea Today''), Omnibus, 2001. ISBN 978-2-259-19584-3 |
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* ''Devoirs de vérité'' (''Duties of truth''), interviews with Edwy Plenel, éd. Stock, 2007. ISBN 978-2-234-05934-4 |
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* ''Droit d'inventaires'' (''Rights of inventory''), interviews with Pierre Favier, Le Seuil, 2009. ISBN 978-2-02-097913-9 |
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* ''Le rêve français'' (''The French Dream''), Privat, August 2011. ISBN 978-2-7089-4441-1 |
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* ''Un destin pour la France'' (''A Destiny for France''), Fayard, January 2012. ISBN 978-2-213-66283-1 |
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* ''Changer de destin'' (''Changing destiny''), Robert Laffont, February 2012. ISBN 978-2-221-13117-6 |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist|30em}} |
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==Further reading== |
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* Chafer, Tony. "Hollande and Africa Policy." ''Modern & Contemporary France'' (2014) 22#4 pp: 513-531. |
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* Clift, Ben, and Raymond Kuhn. "The Hollande Presidency, 2012–14." ''Modern & Contemporary France'' (2014) 22#4 pp: 425-434; [http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09639489.2014.957959#abstract Online free] |
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* Goodliffe, Gabriel, and Riccardo Brizzi. ''France after 2012'' (2015). |
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* Kuhn, Raymond. "Mister Unpopular: François Hollande and the Exercise of Presidential Leadership, 2012–14," ''Modern & Contemporary France'' (2014) 22#4 pp: 435-457 |
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* Merle, Patrick, and Dennis Patterson. "The French parliamentary and presidential elections of 2012." ''Electoral Studies'' 34 (2014): 303-309. |
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* Wall, Irwin. ''France Votes: The Election of François Hollande'' (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.) |
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* Weinstein, Kenneth R. "Hollande the hawk?." ''World Affairs'' 177.1 (2014): 87-96. |
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===In French=== |
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* {{cite book |last=Michel |first=Richard |year=2011 |title=François Hollande: L'inattendu |location=Paris |publisher=Archipel |isbn=978-2-8098-0600-7 |language=fr}} |
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* {{cite book |last=Raffy |first=Serge |year=2011 |title=François Hollande: Itinéraire Secret |location=Paris |publisher=Fayard |isbn=978-2-213-63520-0 |language=fr}} |
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==External links== |
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{{Commons category}} |
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* {{fr icon}} [http://www.elysee.fr/ President of France] |
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* {{fr icon}} [http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/13/tribun/fiches_id/1654.asp Official page at the French National Assembly] |
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* {{fr icon}} [http://francoishollande.fr/ Official website] |
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* [http://www.politique.net/2008090103-portrait-francois-hollande.htm François Hollande, 11 années à la tête du Parti Socialiste], Politique.net |
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* Michael C. Behrent (Sister Republic),[http://sisterrepublic.wordpress.com/2011/10/03/socialism-of-adjustment-francois-hollande/ "Socialism of Adjustment: François Hollande"] |
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* [http://www.english.rfi.fr/france/presidential-election-2012-sarkozy-hollande-lepen-bayrou French Presidential election 2012 dossier on RFI English] |
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* [http://www.english.rfi.fr/france-parliamentary-elections French Parliamentary elections 2012 dossier on RFI English] |
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* [http://gadebate.un.org/67/france Statement of President Hollande] to the [[Sixty-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly]], 25 September 2012 (dubbed in English; official United Nations video) |
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* [http://www.theguardian.com/world/francois-hollande Collected Articles at the ''Guardian''] |
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{{Persondata |
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| NAME = Hollande, Francois |
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| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = President Hollande |
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| SHORT DESCRIPTION = French politician |
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| DATE OF BIRTH = 12 August 1954 |
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| PLACE OF BIRTH = [[Rouen]], [[Seine-Maritime]], [[French Fourth Republic|France]] |
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Revision as of 04:28, 11 March 2015
François Hollande | |
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President of France | |
Assumed office 15 May 2012 | |
Prime Minister | Jean-Marc Ayrault Manuel Valls |
Preceded by | Nicolas Sarkozy |
Co-Prince of Andorra | |
Assumed office 15 May 2012 Serving with Joan Enric Vives Sicília | |
Prime Minister | Antoni Martí |
Representative | Sylvie Hubac Thierry Lataste |
Preceded by | Nicolas Sarkozy |
President of the Corrèze General Council | |
In office 20 March 2008 – 15 May 2012 | |
Preceded by | Jean-Pierre Dupont |
Succeeded by | Gérard Bonnet |
First Secretary of the Socialist Party | |
In office 27 November 1997 – 27 November 2008 | |
Preceded by | Lionel Jospin |
Succeeded by | Martine Aubry |
Mayor of Tulle | |
In office 17 March 2001 – 17 March 2008 | |
Preceded by | Raymond-Max Aubert |
Succeeded by | Bernard Combes |
Member of the National Assembly for Corrèze's 1st Constituency | |
In office 12 June 1997 – 15 May 2012 | |
Preceded by | Raymond-Max Aubert |
Succeeded by | Sophie Dessus |
In office 12 June 1988 – 17 May 1993 | |
Preceded by | Proportional Representation |
Succeeded by | Raymond-Max Aubert |
Personal details | |
Born | François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande 12 August 1954 Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France |
Political party | Socialist Party |
Domestic partner(s) | Ségolène Royal (1978–2007) Valérie Trierweiler (2007–2014) |
Children | Thomas Clémence Julien Flora |
Residence | Élysée Palace |
Alma mater | HEC Paris Sciences Po École nationale d'administration |
Signature | ![]() |
Website | Official facebook |
François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande (French pronunciation: [fʁɑ̃swa ɔlɑ̃d]; born 12 August 1954) is a French politician who has been the President of France since 2012.
Hollande was previously the First Secretary of the French Socialist Party from 1997 to 2008, the Mayor of Tulle from 2001 to 2008 and the President of the Corrèze General Council from 2008 to 2012. He also served in the National Assembly twice as a representative of Corrèze from 1988 to 1993 and 1997 to 2012.
Early life and education
Hollande was born in Rouen to a middle-class family. His mother, Nicole Frédérique Marguerite Tribert (1927–2009), was a social worker, and his father, Georges Gustave Hollande, an ear, nose, and throat doctor who "had once run for the far right in local politics."[1][2][3][4][5] Hollande was raised Catholic, but became an agnostic in later life,[6] and now considers himself as an atheist[7] (In December 2011, Hollande told the French Christian magazine La Vie that he respects all religious practices but has none of his own.[8]) The family moved to Neuilly-sur-Seine, a highly exclusive suburb of Paris, when Hollande was 13.[9]
He attended Saint-Jean-Baptiste-de-la-Salle boarding school, a private Catholic school in Rouen, then HEC Paris, the Institut d'études politiques de Paris (Paris Institute of Political Studies), and the École nationale d'administration. He graduated from ENA in 1980[10][11] and chose to enter the prestigious Cour des comptes. He lived in the United States in the summer of 1974 while he was a university student.[12] Immediately after graduating, he was employed as a councillor in the Court of Audit.
Early political career
After volunteering as a student to work for François Mitterrand's ultimately unsuccessful campaign in the 1974 presidential election, Hollande joined the Socialist Party five years later. He was quickly spotted by Jacques Attali, a senior adviser to Mitterrand, who arranged for Hollande to stand for election to the French National Assembly in 1981 in Corrèze against future President Jacques Chirac, who was then the Leader of the Rally for the Republic, a Neo-Gaullist party. Hollande lost to Chirac in the first round.
He went on to become a special advisor to newly elected President Mitterrand, before serving as a staffer for Max Gallo, the government's spokesman. After becoming a municipal councillor for Ussel in 1983, he contested Corrèze for a second time in 1988, this time being elected to the National Assembly. Hollande lost his bid for re-election to the National Assembly in the so-called "blue wave" of the 1993 election, described as such due to the number of seats gained by the Right at the expense of the Socialist Party.
First Secretary of the Socialist Party
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/Fran%C3%A7ois_Hollande.jpg/170px-Fran%C3%A7ois_Hollande.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/Socialist_rally_Zenith_2007_05_29_n2.jpg/170px-Socialist_rally_Zenith_2007_05_29_n2.jpg)
As the end of Mitterrand's term in office approached, the Socialist Party was torn by a struggle of internal factions, each seeking to influence the direction of the party. Hollande pleaded for reconciliation and for the party to unite behind Jacques Delors, the president of the European Commission, but Delors renounced his ambitions to run for the French presidency in 1995, leading to Lionel Jospin's resuming his earlier position as the leader of the party. Jospin selected Hollande to become the official party spokesman, and Hollande went on to contest Corrèze once again in 1997, successfully returning to the National Assembly.
That same year, Jospin became the prime minister of France, and Hollande won the election for his successor as first secretary of the French Socialist Party, a position he would hold for eleven years. Because of the very strong position of the Socialist Party within the French government during this period, Hollande's position led some to refer to him the "vice prime minister". Hollande would go on to be elected mayor of Tulle in 2001, an office he would hold for the next seven years.
The immediate resignation of Jospin from politics following his shock defeat by far-right candidate Jean-Marie Le Pen in the first round of the 2002 presidential election forced Hollande to become the public face of the party for the 2002 legislative election but, although he managed to limit defeats and was re-elected in his own constituency, the Socialists lost nationally. In order to prepare for the 2003 party congress in Dijon, he obtained the support of many notable personalities of the party and was re-elected first secretary against opposition from left-wing factions.
After the triumph of the Left in the 2004 regional elections, Hollande was cited as a potential presidential candidate, but the Socialists were divided on the European Constitution, and Hollande's support for the ill-fated "Yes" position in the French referendum on the European constitution caused friction within the party. Although Hollande was re-elected as first secretary at the Le Mans Congress in 2005, his authority over the party began to decline from this point onwards. Eventually his domestic partner, Ségolène Royal, was chosen to represent the Socialist Party in the 2007 presidential election, where she would lose to Nicolas Sarkozy.
Hollande was widely blamed for the poor performances of the Socialist Party in the 2007 elections, and he announced that he would not seek another term as first secretary. Hollande publicly declared his support for Bertrand Delanoë, the mayor of Paris, although it was Martine Aubry who would go on to win the race to succeed him in 2008.
Following his resignation as first secretary, Hollande was immediately elected to replace Jean-Pierre Dupont as the president of the General Council of Corrèze in April 2008, a position he holds to this day. In 2008 he supported the creation of the first European Prize for Local History (Étienne Baluze Prize), founded by the "Société des amis du musée du cloître" of Tulle, on the suggestion of the French historian Jean Boutier. François Hollande awarded the first prize on 29 February 2008 to the Italian historian Beatrice Palmero in the General Council of Corrèze.
2012 presidential campaign
Styles of François Hollande | |
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Reference style | Son Excellence (His Excellency) |
Spoken style | Monsieur le Président |
Styles of François Hollande | |
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Reference style | Excel·lentíssim Senyor (The Most Excellent) |
Spoken style | Excel·lentíssim Senyor |
Following his re-election as president of the General Council of Corrèze in March 2011, Hollande announced that he would be a candidate in the upcoming primary election to select the Socialist and Radical Left Party presidential nominee.[13] The primary marked the first time that both parties had held an open primary to select a joint nominee at the same time. He initially trailed the front-runner, former finance minister and International Monetary Fund managing director Dominique Strauss-Kahn.
Following Strauss-Kahn's arrest on suspicion of sexual assault in New York City in May 2011, Hollande began to lead the opinion polls. His position as front-runner was established just as Strauss-Kahn declared that he would no longer be seeking the nomination. After a series of televised debates throughout September, Hollande topped the ballot in the first round held on 9 October with 39% of the vote, not gaining the 50% required to avoid a second ballot, which he would contest against Martine Aubry, who had come second with 30% of the vote.
The second ballot took place on 16 October 2011. Hollande won with 56% of the vote to Aubry's 43% and thus became the official Socialist and Radical Left Party candidate for the 2012 presidential election.[14] After the primary results, he immediately gained the pledged support of the other contenders for the party's nomination, including Aubry, Arnaud Montebourg, Manuel Valls and 2007 candidate Ségolène Royal.[15]
Hollande's presidential campaign was managed by Pierre Moscovici and Stéphane Le Foll, a member of Parliament and Member of the European Parliament respectively.[16] Hollande launched his campaign officially with a rally and major speech at Le Bourget on 22 January 2012 in front of 25,000 people.[17][18] The main themes of his speech were equality and the regulation of finance, both of which he promised to make a key part of his campaign.[18]
On 26 January, he outlined a full list of policies in a manifesto containing 60 propositions, including the separation of retail activities from riskier investment-banking businesses; raising taxes on big corporations, banks and the wealthy; creating 60,000 teaching jobs; bringing the official retirement age back down to 60 from 62; creating subsidised jobs in areas of high unemployment for the young; promoting more industry in France by creating a public investment bank; granting marriage and adoption rights to same-sex couples; and pulling French troops out of Afghanistan in 2012.[19][20] On 9 February, he detailed his policies specifically relating to education in a major speech in Orléans.[21]
On 15 February, incumbent president Nicolas Sarkozy announced that he would run for a second and final term, strongly criticising Hollande's proposals and claiming that he would bring about "economic disaster within two days of taking office" if he won.[22]
Hollande visited Berlin, Germany, in December 2011 for the Social Democrats Federal Party Congress, at which he met Sigmar Gabriel, Peer Steinbrück, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Martin Schulz;[23][24] he also travelled to Belgium before the United Kingdom in February 2012, where he met with Opposition Leader Ed Miliband; and finally Tunisia in May 2012.[25][26]
Opinion polls showed a tight race between the two men in the first round of voting, with most polls showing Hollande comfortably ahead of Sarkozy in a hypothetical second round run-off.[27]
The first round of the presidential election was held on 22 April. François Hollande came in first place with 28.63% of the vote, and faced Nicolas Sarkozy in the second round run-off.[28] In the second round of voting on 6 May 2012, François Hollande was elected President of the French Republic with 51.7% of the vote.[29]
President of France, 2012–present
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/PR-2012-05-15_IMG_1620.jpg/220px-PR-2012-05-15_IMG_1620.jpg)
François Hollande was elected President of France on 6 May 2012. He was inaugurated on 15 May, and shortly afterwards appointed Jean-Marc Ayrault to be his Prime Minister. He also appointed Benoît Puga to be the military's chief of staff, Pierre-René Lemas as his general secretary and Pierre Besnard as his Head of Cabinet.[30] On his first official visit to a foreign country in his capacity as president of France, the airplane transporting him was hit by lightning.[31] The plane returned safely to Paris where he took another flight to Germany. The first measures he took were to lower the income of the president, the prime minister, and other members of the government by 30%, and to make them sign a "code of ethics".[32]
Budget
Hollande's economic policies are wide-ranging, including supporting the creation of a European credit rating agency, the separation of lending and investment in banks, reducing the share of electricity generated by nuclear power in France from 75 to 50% in favour of renewable energy sources, merging income tax and the General Social Contribution (CSG), creating an additional 45% for additional income of 150,000 euros, capping tax loopholes at a maximum of €10,000 per year, and questioning the relief solidarity tax on wealth (ISF, Impôt de Solidarité sur la Fortune) measure that should bring €29 billion in additional revenue. Hollande has also signalled his intent to implement a 75% income tax rate on revenue earned above 1,000,000 euros per year, to generate the provision of development funds for deprived suburbs, and to return to a deficit of zero percent of GDP by 2017.[33][34] The tax plan has proven controversial, with courts ruling it unconstitutional in 2012, only to then take the opposite position on a redrafted version in 2013.[35][36]
Hollande has also announced several reforms to education, pledging to recruit 60,000 new teachers, to create a study allowance and means-tested training, and to set up a mutually beneficial contract that would allow a generation of experienced employees and craftsmen to be the guardians and teachers of younger newly hired employees, thereby creating a total of 150,000 subsidized jobs. This has been complemented by the promise of aid to SMEs, with the creation of a public bank investment-oriented SME's, and a reduction of the corporate tax rate to 30% for medium corporations and 15% for small.
Hollande's government has announced plans to construct 500,000 public homes per year, including 150,000 social houses, funded by a doubling of the ceiling of the A passbook, the region making available its local government land within five years. In accordance with long-standing Socialist Party policy, Hollande has announced that the retirement age will revert to 60, for those who have contributed for more than 41 years.
LGBT rights
Hollande has also announced his personal support for same-sex marriage and adoption for LGBT couples, and outlined plans to pursue the issue in early 2013.[37] In July 2012, Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault announced that "In the first half of 2013, the right to marriage and adoption will be open to all couples, without discrimination [...]", confirming this election promise by Hollande.[38][39]
The bill to legalize same-sex marriage, known as Bill no. 344, was introduced to the National Assembly of France on 7 November 2012. On 12 February 2013, the National Assembly approved the bill in a 329–229 vote.[40] The Right-wing opposed the bill. The Senate approved the full bill with a 171–165 majority on 12 April with minor amendments. On 23 April, the National Assembly approved the amended bill, in a 331–225 vote, and following approval of the law by the Constitutional Council of France, it was signed into law by President François Hollande on 18 May 2013, with the first same-sex weddings under the law taking place eleven days later.[41]
Labour reform
As President, Hollande pursued labor reform to make France more competitive internationally. Legislation was introduced in late 2012 and after much debate passed the French lower and upper house in May 2013. The bill includes measures such as making it easier for workers to change jobs and for companies to fire employees. One of the main measures of the bill allows companies to temporarily cut workers' salaries or hours during times of economic difficulty. This measure takes its inspiration from Germany, where furloughs have been credited with allowing companies to weather difficult times without resorting to massive layoffs. Another measure that aims to simplify the firing process. Layoffs in France are often challenged in courts and the cases can take years to resolve. Many companies cite the threat of lengthy court action – even more than any financial cost – as the most difficult part of doing business in France. The law shortens the time that employees have to contest a layoff and also lays out a scheme for severance pay. The government hopes this will help employees and companies reach agreement faster in contentious layoffs. Another key measure introduced are credits for training that follow employees throughout their career, regardless of where they work, and the right to take a leave of absence to work at another company. The law will also require all companies to offer and partially pay for supplemental health insurance. Lastly, the law also reforms unemployment insurance, so that someone out of work doesn't risk foregoing significant benefits when taking a job that might pay less than previous work or end up only being temporary. Under the new law, workers will be able to essentially put benefits on hold when they take temporary work, instead of seeing their benefits recalculated each time.[42]
Pension reform
As President, Hollande pursued reform to the vast and expensive pension system in France. The process proved to be very contentious, with members of Parliament, Labor Unions, and general public all opposed. Mass protests and demonstrations occurred throughout Paris. Despite all of the opposition, the French Parliament did pass a reform in December 2013 aimed at plugging a pension deficit expected to reach 20.7 billion euros ($28.4 billion) by 2020 if nothing is done. Rather than raising the manadatory retirement that many economists had advised, Hollande pursued increasing contributions and leaving the retirement age untouched. The reform had a rough ride in parliament, being rejected twice by the Senate, where Hollande's Socialist Party has a slim majority, before it won sufficient backing in a final vote before the lower house of parliament. French private sector workers will see the size and duration of their pension contributions increase only modestly under the reform while their retirement benefits are largely untouched.[43] Several scholars and economists argue the reform did not go far enough.
Foreign affairs
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6b/Francois_Hollande_Bastille_Day_2013_Paris_t101747.jpg/220px-Francois_Hollande_Bastille_Day_2013_Paris_t101747.jpg)
As President, Hollande promised an early withdrawal of French combat troops present in Afghanistan in 2012.[44][45] He also pledged to conclude a new contract of Franco-German partnership, advocating the adoption of a Directive on the protection of public services. Hollande has proposed "an acceleration of the establishment of a Franco-German civic service, the creation of a Franco-German research office, the creation of a Franco-German industrial fund to finance common competitiveness clusters, and the establishment of a common military headquarters".[46] As well as this, Hollande has expressed a wish to "combine the positions of the presidents of the European Commission and of the European Council (currently held by José Manuel Barroso and Herman Van Rompuy respectively) into a single office...and that it should be directly chosen" by the members of the European Parliament.[46] Hollande made a state visit to the United States in February 2014; a state dinner was given in his honor by U.S. President Barack Obama.[47][48][49] On 27 February 2014, Hollande was a special guest of honor in Abuja, received by Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in celebration of Nigeria's amalgamation in 1914, a 100 year anniversary.[50]
Intervention in Mali
On 11 January 2013, Hollande authorised the execution of Operation Serval, which aimed to curtail the activities of Islamist extremists in the north of Mali.[44] The intervention was popularly supported in Mali, as Hollande promised that his government would do all it could to "rebuild Mali".[51] During his one-day visit to Bamako, Mali's capital, on 2 February 2013, he said that it was "the most important day in [his] political life".[52] In 2014 Hollande took some of these troops out of Mali and spread them over the rest of the Sahel under Operation Barkhane, in an effort to curb jihadists militants.[53]
Co-Prince of Andorra
The President of the French Republic, two joint heads of state of the Principality of Andorra. Hollande hosted a visit from Antoni Martí, head of the government, and Vicenç Mateu Zamora, leader of the parliament.[54][55]
Approval ratings
An IFOP poll released in April 2014 showed that Hollande’s approval rating had dropped five points since the previous month of March to 18%, dipping below his earlier low of 20% in February during the very same year.[56] In November 2014, his approval rating reached a new low of 12%, according to a YouGov poll.[57] Following the Charlie Hebdo shooting in January 2015, however, approval for Hollande increased dramatically, reaching 40% according to an IFOP poll two weeks after the attack,[58] though an Ipsos-Le Point survey in early February showed his rating declining back to 30%.[59]
Personal life
For over thirty years, his partner was fellow Socialist politician Ségolène Royal, with whom he has four children: Thomas (1984), Clémence (1985), Julien (1987) and Flora (1992). In June 2007, just a month after Royal's defeat in the French presidential election of 2007, the couple announced that they were separating.[60]
A few months after his split from Ségolène Royal was announced, a French website published details of a relationship between Hollande and French journalist Valérie Trierweiler. In November 2007, Trierweiler confirmed and openly discussed her relationship with Hollande in an interview with the French weekly Télé 7 Jours. She remained a reporter for the magazine Paris Match, but ceased work on political stories. Trierweiler moved into the Élysée Palace with Hollande when he became president and started to accompany him on official travel.[61]
On 25 January 2014, Hollande officially announced his separation from Valérie Trierweiler[62] after the tabloid magazine Closer outed his affair with actress Julie Gayet.[63] In September 2014 Trierweiler published a book about her time with Hollande titled Merci pour ce moment (Thank You for This Moment). The memoir claimed the president presented himself as disliking the rich, but in reality disliked the poor. The claim brought an angry reaction and rejection from Hollande, who said he had spent his life dedicated to the under-privileged.[64]
Honours and decorations
National honours
Ribbon bar | Honour | Date & Comment |
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Grand Master & Grand Cross of the National Order of the Legion of Honour | 15 May 2012 – automatic upon taking presidential office |
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Grand Master & Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit | 15 May 2012 – automatic upon taking presidential office |
Foreign honours
Ribbon bar | Country | Honour | Date |
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Poland | Knight of the Order of the White Eagle | 16 November 2012[65][66] |
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Italy | Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic | 21 November 2012.[67] |
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Monaco | Grand Cross of the Order of Saint-Charles | 14 November 2013[68] |
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Saudi Arabia | Chain of the Order of Abdulaziz Al Saud | 30 December 2013.[69] |
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Netherlands | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion | 20 January 2014.[70] |
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United Kingdom | Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath | 5 June 2014.[71] |
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Sweden | Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim | 2 December 2014.[72] |
Works
Hollande has had a number of books and academic works published, including:
- L'Heure des choix. Pour une économie politique (The hour of choices. For a political economy), with Pierre Moscovici, 1991. ISBN 2-7381-0146-1
- L'Idée socialiste aujourd'hui (The Socialist Idea Today), Omnibus, 2001. ISBN 978-2-259-19584-3
- Devoirs de vérité (Duties of truth), interviews with Edwy Plenel, éd. Stock, 2007. ISBN 978-2-234-05934-4
- Droit d'inventaires (Rights of inventory), interviews with Pierre Favier, Le Seuil, 2009. ISBN 978-2-02-097913-9
- Le rêve français (The French Dream), Privat, August 2011. ISBN 978-2-7089-4441-1
- Un destin pour la France (A Destiny for France), Fayard, January 2012. ISBN 978-2-213-66283-1
- Changer de destin (Changing destiny), Robert Laffont, February 2012. ISBN 978-2-221-13117-6
References
- ^ Angelique Chrisafis in Le Bourget (22 January 2012). "Francois Hollande stages first major rally in 2012 French presidential race | World news". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ Willsher, Kim (16 October 2011). "French presidential election: Nicolas Sarkozy v François Hollande". The Guardian. London.
- ^ "EN IMAGES. François Hollande, une carrière au parti socialiste – Presidentielle 2012" (in French). leParisien.fr. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- ^ Email Us (21 April 2012). "We all know Sarko, but who's the other guy?". The Irish Times. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
{{cite news}}
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has generic name (help) - ^ "The NS Profile: François Hollande". New Statesman. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ "Prince et chanoine : les nouveaux métiers de Hollande". Direct Matin. Retrieved 18 June 2012.
- ^ Duchemin, Rémi (23 January 2014). "François Hollande, un athée très discret". Europe1.fr (in French). Europe 1. Retrieved 13 July 2014.
- ^ Elkaïm, Olivia (5 April 2012). "François Hollande : des origines protestantes hollandaises". La Vie (in French). Retrieved 3 February 2013. ("En décembre dernier, François Hollande confiait à La Vie : 'Je n'ai aucune pratique religieuse. Mais je respecte toutes les confessions. La mienne est de ne pas en avoir.'")
- ^ "Global Players: Francois Hollande | Thomas White International". Thomaswhite.com. Retrieved 15 May 2012.
- ^ Sponsored by (10 March 2012). "The French elite: Old school ties". The Economist. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ "HEC Paris – Grande Ecole – Foire aux questions" (in French). Hec.fr. Retrieved 3 January 2012.
- ^ Erlanger, Steven (15 April 2012). "The Soft Middle of François Hollande". The New York Times. p. 50. Retrieved 7 May 2012.
- ^ Albinet, Alain (31 March 2011). "L'appel de Tulle de François Hollande". Le Monde (in French). Retrieved 29 June 2011.
- ^ Erlanger, Steven (7 September 2010). "French Unions in National Strike on Pensions". The New York Times. p. A4. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
[Socialist party leader Martine] Aubry has presidential ambitions... Her rivals included the former leader of the party, François Hollande....
- ^ Love, Brian (16 September 2011). "Hollande to run for presidency for French left". Reuters. Retrieved 16 October 2011.
- ^ Botella, Bruno. "François Hollande recrute deux préfets pour sa campagne" (in French). acteurs publics. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
- ^ Erlanger, Steven (22 January 2012). "François Hollande, Challenging Sarkozy, Calls for Change". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
- ^ a b Clavel, Geoffroy (22 January 2012). "François Hollande, French Presidential Candidate, Says 'Finance' Is His Adversary". Huffington Post. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
- ^ Erlanger, Steven (26 January 2012). "Sarkozy's Main Rival Offers Proposals for Lifting France's Economy". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 February 2012.
- ^ "Presidential program – François Hollande". Retrieved 18 February 2012.
- ^ Laubacher, Paul (10 February 2013). "Éducation : François Hollande fait de l'école primaire une priorité". Le Nouvel Observateur (in French). Retrieved 18 February 2012.
- ^ "Politique : Sarkozy se voit à l'Élysée pour encore "sept ans et demi"". Le Figaro. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
- ^ ""Gemeinsam eine Menge bewegen" | Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD)" (in German). Spd.de. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ Traynor, Ian (26 March 2012). "Roll over, Merkozy: François Hollande finds a German ally of his own | World news". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ "François Hollande en visite en Tunisie – France / Tunisie – RFI". Radio France Internationale. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ "Cheer for François Hollande in France. But he won't change Europe | Comment is free". The Guardian. London. 28 September 2007. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ "4 March 2012 – Opinion Way" (PDF). Retrieved 19 April 2012.
- ^ "Elections Présidentielle Résultats". FRANCE 24. 22 April 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ "Socialist Hollande triumphs in French presidential poll – FRENCH ELECTIONS 2012". FRANCE 24. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ Le cabinet du Président de la République elysee.fr 15 May 2012
- ^ "Hollande's plane hit by lightning, reports say – BBC News Europe". BBC. 15 May 2012. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ^ "France: Hollande réunit son gouvernement, baisse son salaire de 30%". Le Parisien. 17 May 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ Samuel, Henry (26 January 2012). "François Hollande outlines manifesto for French presidency challenge – Telegraph". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ ""2% de croissance": Hollande s'explique". Le Figaro. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ Fouquet, Helene (29 December 2012). "French Court Says 75% Tax Rate on the Rich Is Unconstitutional". Bloomberg. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ^ Petroff, Alanna (30 December 2013). "France's 75% 'millionaire tax' to become law". Money.cnn.com. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ "Unpopular French President Nicolas Sarkozy Desperately Woos Les Gais". Queerty.com. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ "Le mariage et l'adoption homosexuels pour début 2013". Le Figaro. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
- ^ Template:Fr icon Loi sur le mariage pour tous : les députés adoptent l'article 1. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ "French constitutional court approves gay-marriage bill". France 24. 17 May 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ^ "France approves major labor reform package". http://www.ap.org/. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
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- ^ "French parliament approves pension reform". Reuters. 19 December 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
- ^ a b Chrisafis, Angélique (13 January 2013). "Mali: high stakes in 'Hollande's war'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
- ^ Fouquet, Helene (26 January 2012). "Socialist Hollande Pledges Tax Breaks End, Eased Pension Measure". Bloomberg. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ a b EurActiv.com, based on reporting by EurActiv.fr. "François Hollande: Towards a European 'New Deal'?". EurActiv. Retrieved 6 May 2012.[dead link]
- ^ "French President visits America". CNN.com. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ "Politics with side of caviar: Obama welcomes Hollande at state dinner". CNN.com. 12 February 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ "François Hollande arrives in United States: No more 'freedom fries' as Obama rolls out red carpet". Daily Telegraph. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2014.
- ^ "Security issues dominate as France's Hollande visits Nigeria | News24 Nigeria". M.news24.com. 27 February 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ Andrew Harding (2 February 2013). "French President Hollande pledges to help rebuild Mali". BBC. Retrieved 16 June 2013.
- ^ "The Bamako Effect". The Economist. 9 February 2013.
- ^ "BBC News - France sets up anti-Islamist force in Africa's Sahel". Bbc.co.uk. 14 July 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ "François Hollande, co-prince d'Andorre, reçoit des responsables de la principauté", 20 minutes, 26 July 2012
- ^ "Entretien du Président de la République, M. François Hollande avec MM. Marti et Mateu, Chef du Gouvernement et Syndic Général de la Principauté d’Andorre", French embassy to Andorra, 30 July 2012
- ^ http://www.ifop.fr/media/poll/2601-1-study_file.pdf
- ^ Sage, Alexandria (6 November 2014). "Hollande popularity plumbs new low in mid-term French poll". Reuters. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
- ^ Sharkov, Damien (19 January 2015). "French President's Popularity Rating Doubles Following Paris Attacks". Newsweek. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
- ^ "Hollande, Valls approval ratings drop - poll". Reuters. 9 February 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
- ^ Sciolino, Elaine (19 June 2007). "French Socialists' First Couple Disclose a Parting of Ways". The New York Times. p. A3. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
- ^ The women in Francois Hollande's life BBC News 10 January 2014
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- ^ "Upset Hollande hits back at former girlfriend's accusations". Paris News.Net. 5 September 2014. Retrieved 7 September 2014.
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(help) - ^ Orders exchange between Polish and French Presidents (photo) – prezydent.pl
- ^ Orders exchange between Polish and French Presidents (photo) – Knight Grand Cross Order of Merit of the Italian Republic elysee.fr
- ^ Template:It icon Italian Presidency website, Exchange of decorations between President Napolitano and President Hollande
- ^ Sovereign Ordonnance n° 4575 of 14 november 2013
- ^ Template:Fr icon BFMTV, [2]
- ^ Template:Nl icon Telegraaf, Koning krijgt grootkruis van Legioen van Eer
- ^ Template:Fr icon BFMTV, Débarquement: la visite millimétrée de la reine Elizabeth II en France
- ^ [3]
Further reading
- Chafer, Tony. "Hollande and Africa Policy." Modern & Contemporary France (2014) 22#4 pp: 513-531.
- Clift, Ben, and Raymond Kuhn. "The Hollande Presidency, 2012–14." Modern & Contemporary France (2014) 22#4 pp: 425-434; Online free
- Goodliffe, Gabriel, and Riccardo Brizzi. France after 2012 (2015).
- Kuhn, Raymond. "Mister Unpopular: François Hollande and the Exercise of Presidential Leadership, 2012–14," Modern & Contemporary France (2014) 22#4 pp: 435-457
- Merle, Patrick, and Dennis Patterson. "The French parliamentary and presidential elections of 2012." Electoral Studies 34 (2014): 303-309.
- Wall, Irwin. France Votes: The Election of François Hollande (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014.)
- Weinstein, Kenneth R. "Hollande the hawk?." World Affairs 177.1 (2014): 87-96.
In French
- Michel, Richard (2011). François Hollande: L'inattendu (in French). Paris: Archipel. ISBN 978-2-8098-0600-7.
- Raffy, Serge (2011). François Hollande: Itinéraire Secret (in French). Paris: Fayard. ISBN 978-2-213-63520-0.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Template:Fr icon President of France
- Template:Fr icon Official page at the French National Assembly
- Template:Fr icon Official website
- François Hollande, 11 années à la tête du Parti Socialiste, Politique.net
- Michael C. Behrent (Sister Republic),"Socialism of Adjustment: François Hollande"
- French Presidential election 2012 dossier on RFI English
- French Parliamentary elections 2012 dossier on RFI English
- Statement of President Hollande to the Sixty-seventh session of the United Nations General Assembly, 25 September 2012 (dubbed in English; official United Nations video)
- Collected Articles at the Guardian
- All articles with faulty authority control information
- 1954 births
- Candidates for the French presidential election, 2012
- Chairmen of the Socialist Party (France)
- École nationale d'administration alumni
- French lawyers
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- François Hollande
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- Recipients of the Order of the White Eagle (Poland)
- Knights of the Royal Order of the Seraphim