Mais Oui! French Prez Is Friend to Business

President-elect has a packed first 40 days

(NEWSER) - Following last night’s victory over Nicolas Sarkozy , Francois Hollande will have to jump right in to his new role—he will be sworn in as France’s president next Tuesday, the BBC notes. What does his election mean?

• Hollande has vowed to renegotiate the eurozone budget treaty Sarkozy championed along with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, but the German government today is trying to cut that off at the pass, calling it “not possible.”
• Though Hollande's election has fueled hope among many French hungry for jobs, economic growth, and the end of austerity, he faces the same debt problems Sarkozy did. Der Spiegel notes that Hollande knows just how tough is the job ahead of him: Rather than appearing celebratory last night, the unsmiling victor “seemed tired, weak, and overwhelmed,” the paper reports.

Far-right leader doesn't get behind Francois Hollande or Nicolas Sarkozy

(AP) - Far-right leader Marine Le Pen is refusing to endorse either candidate in France's presidential runoff and says she will cast a blank protest ballot. Le Pen, who came in a strong third place in the first round of voting April 22, told her supporters at a big rally in Paris to "vote according to your conscience" and said, "I will cast a blank ballot," explaining that she could not endorse Nicolas Sarkozy or Socialist challenger Francois Hollande. Polls favor Hollande, but Sarkozy hopes to win over Le Pen's voters for Sunday's runoff. More»

President, chief rival will face each other in May 6 runoff election for presidency

(AP) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy and chief rival Francois Hollande are headed for a showdown on May 6, after finishing as the top two candidates in today's first round of voting in France's presidential elections. Though the French government has yet to finalize the tally, the Wall Street Journal and other outlets are reporting that Sarkozy captured between 25% and 26% of the vote, while Hollande took in 27% to 29%. Since no one won more than half, both candidates head to the runoff, where previous polling had suggested that the Socialist Hollande could deny Sarkozy his bid for re-election. More»

Francois Hollande likely to head to runoff with Sarko

(NEWSER) - Throngs are voting today in Round 1 of France's presidential elections in what's seen as a referendum on Nicolas Sarkozy's economic stewardship and divisive personality, reports the AP . Early polls show a 28% turnout in the vote, which will trim the field of 10 candidates to two for a May 6 runoff. Sarkozy and Socialist candidate Francois Hollande are expected to make the cut. "This is an election that will weigh on the future of Europe," Hollande said this morning after voting. "They're wondering not so much what the winner's name will be, but especially what policies will follow." More»

Now citizens must pass test of language, 'values'

(NEWSER) - Bad news, Francophiles: It just became harder to become French. Nicolas Sarkozy’s government has just thrown up some tough new hurdles for would-be French citizens, requiring them to pass a difficult language test (foreigners will need to speak French at the level of a French 15-year-old) and swear allegiance to "French values," the Los Angeles Times reports. The new rules, which went into effect on Jan. 1, also forbid the new citizens from claiming “allegiance to another country while on French soil,” though dual nationality is still permitted. More»