INTERNATIONAL// Francois Hollande of the French Socialist Party became the 24th French President in closely contested elections on May 6, 2012, taking charge of a debt-ridden nation. A champion of ‘government stimulus programmes’, Hollande belongs to the breed of leaders who believe that it is the state’s duty to protect the downtrodden. Therefore, his victory is being seen as a blow to the austerity drive sweeping across Europe currently. Hollande takes over the running of the country in difficult times, as France lies knee-deep in debts. The nation is also divided over how to integrate immigrants, while at the same time preserving its national identity. The President-elect, whose image has been that of a ‘vehicle of change’ across Europe will be watched closely as he makes his first moves. Hollande’s win left Left parties jubilant. This is the first time since Socialist Francois Mitterrand (1981-1995) that a Leftleaning politician has been at the helm of power in France. “There are people who, thanks to us, are now hoping. They are looking to us and want us to finish the austerity drive,” Hollande told an exuberant crowd of supporters at his first official speech at Paris’ Place de la Bastille. “You are a movement rising everywhere in Europe, perhaps even across the world,” he added. In a close contest, Hollande defeated Nicolas Sarkozy, the hard-driving President, who was seen as an America-friendly leader, and one who led the country in its worst economic crisis since the Second World War. However, according to the French media, it was Sarkozy’s policies, and equally his personality, that led to his defeat. France witnessed a strong voter turnout of 81 per cent. When 95 per cent of the votes were counted, results showed Hollande to be at a lead with 51.6 per cent of votes compared to the 48.4 per cent of Sarkozy. A victim of voter rage, Sarkozy had introduced spending cuts in expenditure in Europe which ousted government and leaders in the past couple of years. Upon winning Hollande’s party reached the iconic plaza of the French Revolution, waving flags and climbing the base of the central column. In his victory speech he said, “Too many divisions, too many wounds, too many breakdowns and divides have separated our fellow citizens. It is all over now.” He also added that, “The foremost duty of the President of the Republic is to unite... and face challenges that await us.” Hollande said that his first act after the election will be to write letters to European leaders seeking renegotiation of a budgettrimming treaty, to bring the continent’s economies together. Since Sarkozy and Germany’s Angela Merkel led the cost-cutting treaty, critics are now worried over the potential conflict within the Franco-German couple.