François Hollande

François Hollande
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Name	François Hollande
Caption	Hollande in 2014
Office	President of France
Term start	15 May 2012
Term end	14 May 2017
Primeminister	Jean-Marc Ayrault, Manuel Valls, Bernard Cazeneuve
Predecessor	Nicolas Sarkozy
Successor	Emmanuel Macron
Office2	Co-Prince of Andorra
Term start2	15 May 2012
Term end2	14 May 2017
Primeminister2	Antoni Martí
Predecessor2	Nicolas Sarkozy
Successor2	Emmanuel Macron
Office3	First Secretary of the Socialist Party
Term start3	27 November 1997
Term end3	27 November 2008
Predecessor3	Lionel Jospin
Successor3	Martine Aubry
Birth date	12 August 1954
Birth place	Rouen, Seine-Inférieure, France
Party	Socialist Party
Alma mater	HEC Paris, Sciences Po, École nationale d'administration

François Hollande served as the 24th President of France and Co-Prince of Andorra from 2012 to 2017. A member of the Socialist Party, he defeated incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy in the 2012 election but chose not to seek re-election after a single term marked by low approval ratings. His presidency was defined by the response to the 2015 terrorist attacks in Paris, the passage of the Taubira law on same-sex marriage, and significant economic challenges within the Eurozone.

Early life and education

François Gérard Georges Hollande was born in Rouen and raised in the affluent Parisian suburb of Neuilly-sur-Seine. His father was an ear, nose, and throat doctor and his mother a social worker. He studied at the prestigious Lycée Pasteur in Neuilly-sur-Seine before pursuing higher education at HEC Paris, the Institut d'études politiques de Paris (Sciences Po), and the École nationale d'administration (ENA), graduating in the promotion "Voltaire" alongside future political figures. During his university years, he became actively involved with the Socialist Party and supported the presidential campaign of François Mitterrand.

Political career before presidency

After ENA, Hollande began his career at the Court of Audit. He was first elected as a deputy for Corrèze in 1988, a rural stronghold he would represent for decades. He served as First Secretary of the Socialist Party from 1997 to 2008, a period that included the presidency of Jacques Chirac and the failed 2002 presidential bid of Lionel Jospin. During this time, he was also Mayor of Tulle from 2001 to 2008 and President of the Corrèze Departmental Council from 2008 to 2012, building a formidable local power base. He was a key figure in the party's internal "No" campaign against the 2005 European Constitution referendum.

Presidency (2012–2017)

Hollande's victory over Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012 was followed by a legislative win for the Socialist Party. His government, led first by Jean-Marc Ayrault and later by Manuel Valls, enacted the Taubira law, legalizing same-sex marriage, which sparked significant opposition from groups like La Manif pour Tous. Economically, his tenure was challenged by high unemployment and the implementation of the "Responsibility Pact" aimed at business tax cuts. Major foreign policy actions included military interventions in Mali and the Central African Republic, and hosting the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) which produced the Paris Agreement. His presidency was profoundly shaped by national security crises, including the Charlie Hebdo shooting, the November 2015 Paris attacks, and the 2016 Nice truck attack, leading to a prolonged state of emergency.

Post-presidency

Since leaving the Élysée Palace, Hollande has remained active in public life, publishing memoirs and giving lectures. He has been critical of certain policies of his successor, Emmanuel Macron, particularly regarding pension reform and the handling of the Yellow vests movement. He has also commented on international affairs, expressing views on Russia's actions in Ukraine and the future of the European Union. In 2023, he was appointed to the Constitutional Council by the President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet.

Personal life

Hollande was in a long-term relationship with Ségolène Royal, the 2007 Socialist presidential candidate, with whom he has four children. After their separation, he had a public relationship with journalist Valérie Trierweiler, who was the First Lady for part of his term. That relationship ended amid media reports of an affair with actress Julie Gayet, whom he did not marry. He is known for a modest personal style, famously using a motor scooter for travel, and has a keen interest in football, supporting RC Lens.

Political positions and public image

Initially branded as a "normal president" in contrast to his predecessor, Hollande's public image suffered due to perceived indecisiveness and economic stagnation, earning him the nickname "Flanby" after a caramel pudding. His political stance evolved from traditional social democratic policies toward more centrist, business-friendly reforms, a shift criticized by the left wing of his party, including figures like Arnaud Montebourg and Benoît Hamon. His presidency is often analyzed in the context of the broader decline of mainstream social democracy in Europe, facing challenges from both the right-wing National Rally and the left-wing La France Insoumise.