World & Nation

Celebration and defeat in France

François Hollande arrives with his companion Valerie Trierweiler to give a speech in Tulle, France, after winning the second round of voting in the presidential election.

François Hollande arrives with his companion Valerie Trierweiler to give a speech in Tulle, France, after winning the second round of voting in the presidential election.  (Fred Dufour / AFP/Getty Images)

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Socialist François Hollande has been elected president of France, defeating incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy, who became the first French president in more than 30 years to lose reelection.

Place de la Bastille

French citizens celebrate the election results at Place de la Bastille.  (Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images)

Nicolas Sarkozy

French incumbent president Nicolas Sarkozy speaks to supporters in Paris after conceding defeat to François Hollande.  (Christophe Karaba / EPA)

Place de la Bastille

At Place de la Bastille in Paris, supporters of François Hollande react as poll results are announced on French television.  (Ian Langsdon / EPA)

Sarkozy supporter

A supporter of outgoing French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s Union for a Popular Movement cries as the preliminary results in the presidential election are announced at UMP headquarters in Paris.  (Jacques Brinon / Associated Press)

Hollande supporters

Supporters of François Hollande hug after results are announced at the Bastille in Paris.  (Michel Spingler / Associated Press)

Nicolas Sarkozy

Nicolas Sarkozy is the first French president in 30 years to lose a reelection bid.  (Christophe Karaba / EPA)

Sarkozy supporters in Paris

In Paris, supporters of Nicolas Sarkozy react to news of the incumbent’s defeat.  (Stephane Reix / EPA)

Sarkozy supporters

Nicolas Sarkozy supporters react to his loss.  (Stephane Reix / EPA)

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