François Hollande becomes French President

  • 12 years ago
(ROUGH CUT ONLY - NO REPORTER NARRATION)

François Hollande became the French President on Tuesday (May 15) in an official handover ceremony that makes him the country's first Socialist leader since François Mitterrand.

Outgoing President Nicolas Sarkozy greeted Hollande on the steps of the Élysée presidential palace, and took him inside for a meeting during which he is believed to have handed over nuclear codes and other matters ahead of a short swearing-in ceremony attended by around 400 guests.

Hollande was due to fly to Berlin later in the day for his first meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

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