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FRANCOIS HOLLANDE HAS today been sworn in as France’s new president at a ceremony in Paris.
At an official handover ceremony in the French capital, the Socialist Party leader became the first left-wing politician to take office at the Élysée Palace since Francois Mitterand.
On hand was the outgoing president Nicolas Sarkozy who greeted Hollande on the steps of the Elysee Palace, just over a week after he was beaten in the presidential run-off vote.
Then around 400 guests attended a swearing in ceremony, here’s how it unfolded…
1. The awkward moment when you have to let the nuclear weapons go
After greeting his successor on the steps of the presidential palace, Sarkozy and Hollande got down to business, namely the handing over of the nuclear launch codes which understandably was all done in private.
Through gritted teeth? Photo: Michel Euler/AP/Press Association Images
“Élysée Palace? Oooo, lovely!” outgoing first lady Carla Bruni greets Hollande’s partner Valerie Trierweiler. Photo: AP Photo/Jacques Brinon
2. Sealing the deal
At a formal handover ceremony, Hollande signed a statement and was sworn in as the new president, the seventh of France’s Fifth Republic, for a five year term.
He was also awarded the Legion d’Honneur, the oldest and highest distinction in all of France which is the equivalent of a knighthood in Britain, or winning the All-Ireland senior football championship in Ireland (well, not really).
Soon enough, the website of the Elysee Palace was changed to reflect the new regime:
3. Addressing the people
In his inaugural address, Hollande said all the things one would expect of a new president, promising to fight for unity and reconciliation and to lead by example.
“My mandate is to bring France back to justice, open up a new way in Europe, contribute to world peace and preserve the planet.” No pressure then.
Photo: AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere, Pool
4. Down the Champs-Élysées
It is tradition for a new president to head down the Champs-Élysées towards the Arc de Triomphe. We’re not sure if it’s tradition to do it in a classic Citroen DS as Hollande did today but thankfully the sunroof allowed him to pop out and wave to the people… and get absolutely drenched in the process:
The BBC’s Daniel Sandford even noted that the convoy stopped at a red light for traffic. Humble.
5. Laying a wreath
Once at the Arc de Triomphe, the new president laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and then there was a rendition of La Marseillaise. All the while the new president looked like he was in dire need of a towel:
6. Meet the fans
After the formalities are taken care of, Hollande is free to meet the crowds that have assembled in the capital to welcome him and sure enough he’s only too happy to dive in and do some classic presidential hand shaking while the French security service look on nervously.
7. Back to the new gaff
With that done, Hollande hopes back in his Citroen and heads back to his new home at the Élysée Palace. Later he will attend a ceremony at the Hotel de Ville in Paris with the mayor of the city, Bertrand Delanoe, and then onto Berlin to meet with Chancellor Angela Merkel.
“Bye!”
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RIP
That’s such sad news. :-(
Nobody knows other peoples people’s problems. Could be his health or family.
Thats awful, just goes to show money don’t make you happy. RIP.
Where does it say he had any?
RIP.
I was at the scene of a suicide a number of years ago.
Its not something friends or a family should ever experience, not to mention the victim.
R.i.p. tony……loved true romance and man on fire
Man on Fire is a fantastic movie. RIP
I don’t think I will ever understand how a person can be so far gone that they will kill themselves ,people go on about how selfish an act it is especially if there are loved ones left and so on, but just think about it for a minute , just try to put yourself in the shoes of that person who is about to kill themselves , imagine how horribly lonely and desperate they are feeling, they don’t think logically , they are not selfish at that moment they are just very unwell and need help desperately. Really really sad for anyone facing this in their lives RIP.
@John….could not agree with you more….no one can understand the pain of someone who feels driven to take his/her own life….
apparantly he had inoperable cancer
Absolutely terrible. There’s such a stigma attached to mental health the world over, horrible.
But how does this situation relate to stigma?
We don’t know the reason for this death.
Rip Tony. Man on fire was my favourite Tony Scott films followed closely by True Romance.
Ironic as it was reported recently that he was thinking of doing a remake of ‘A Bridge Too Far’.
Good man Conor. I take it your one of our many citizens that still manages to trivialize suicide. This poor mans problems go a lot further than his job me thinks. Our thoughts are with him & his family.
Sad news. It’s awful that he thought the only way to find peace was to do this. My condolences to his family and friends.
just looking at my dvd collection and i have nearly all his movies. Such sad news
It really is sad news that you have nearly all his movies! Thanks for sharing
He’d lost that loving feeling
HAAAAAAA HAAAAAA HAAAAAAAAA! Chortle…. wheeze! Oh, oh, give me a second to catch my breath from laughing at that one!
Cos a man with a wife and 2 kids killing himself is such a fu#king hillarious wheeze.
Bandaraboy – you’re an arsehole!
Heard he did it because he was just diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour & he couldn’t live with the news..so sad :( RIP
R.I.P. Tony.
Too many suicides in our country.
Government does very little to publicly acknowledge the issue, let alone do anything about it.
so,so sad and left a very young family behind …
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