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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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And puff just like that they are gone
@Mark Dunne: some weeds are notoriously hard to kill?
@brian o’leary: it’s next to impossible to get rid of a Creeping Lilly like Rodders or even a Pot-plant like Eamo
@brian o’leary: Like Japanese Knotweed.
@brian o’leary: bring back glyphosate or paraquat guaranteed to rid us of the pesky Green Party
Goodbye Green Party. Good riddance.
@Social Guy: nope u jumping to concliusios that’s wrong again…
@A W: what is your native language?
@Finian McG: I don’t think English is AW’s first language, or second or third!
@Finian McG: Most Irish can’t even use it properly so it’s definitely not a big issue.
With a four day week, won’t every weekend be a Bank Holiday ?
@brian o’leary: nope. Some people will have to take , Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday off to enable the company open 5 days but allow 4 day working week for staff
@Ger Whelan: I guess, but sometimes they’ll be able to take a Monday or a Friday and have more 3 day weekends? Personally, I’d prefer to work the 5 days and have an extra days holidays.
@brian o’leary: So far the few companies I have seen switch to the 4 day week have done so that you get the same 3 days off every week. The staff with service got the first pick of what day they wanted off.
@brian o’leary: no you work Friday to Monday every week didnt you realise that
Great, another citizens assembly. That’s what we elect a parliament for, to make a decision. Not to put another one in place
@Tom O’ Donnell: *another parliament*
Greens clinging to power ☝️
@Darragh Mcnamara: using our money (tax) cling to power
Ah c’mon, it’s crazy now……… I’m holding out for 2 weeks all inclusive in lanzarote!!!! That’s it……. a fortnight lanzarote = #1,#2AND #3 on the piece of paper nov29th
@Frank Mc Carthy: yea, we know – you’ve been making the same “joke” for 3 days now. Oh and btw, you do know that the 4 day week proposal doesn’t actually suggest a cut in working hours….?
@Kevin Kerr: hey brenny, so I made a joke about something the ( soon to be extinct hopefully) greenies only came up with today??? You want the lotto numbers for weds night, lol
@Frank Mc Carthy: you do know thats brenny’s account??
@Frank/Kevvy: You made the same ‘joke’ on an SF post yesterday. My sides almost split from the laughter. If you could take an extended break somewhere with no Internet, these comments sections would improve immeasurably.
Everyone knows that you’re the person with a couple of dozen accounts at least.
@Brendan O’Brien: I hope you sued that movie ‘SPLIT’!!! It’s despicable what you & all your accounts, kevin kerrr, chutes, d peader etc etc have done to this once great site!!! Pathetic & sad
@Frank Mc Carthy: A Trump super fam hatrs the Greens. What a shock. You hate Science, modernity, people with too much melanin, anyone with a wierd religion, anyone not straight….. Standard right wing stuff
@FoxyBoiiYT: & just DONT get me started about multi account juvenile trolls!!! LOL
@Kevin Kerr: funny , more working hours , imagine the county council slobs staying an extra 2 hours a day. Funny…
I don’t want a 4-day week, I want to be able to commute from Navan but for it to not take four hours each day, sort out the public transport!
@Fiona Wyse: Good for you.
@Fiona Wyse: would a 4 day week not cut your weekly commute time by 20%?
@Fiona Wyse: capitalistic bootlicker
@brian o’leary: I think she means sort out public transport BEFORE the mystical 4 day week. Public transport always left as a non runner. Especially on the Northside of Dublin.
@Fiona Wyse: are they still on for opening the old rail line or did they abandon that after the motorway was built?
@brian o’leary: ah shure, why not get a public service desk job and work from home 3days from 5?
And have annual pay reviews through Public Service Agreements built into the State Budgets.
Not to miss out on inflation proofed pensions as well.
You must be screwed up to commute 5 days weekly.
Like me, I commuted up to 3hrs across Dublin 5 & 6 days, sometumes 7, for most of my workng life, only for the desk jockeys to levy my pension to keep themselves secure.
Get sense man.
@Alex Kane: we have a special name for leeches like you
@brian o’leary: well you have to make the time up somehow, I’m quite happy with how long my working day is already (8 hours) and with severe back and neck pain the less time I spend sitting at a desk every day the better! I don’t know about you but some people actually like to do nice activities for themselves in the evening time! It’s not right having to get up at 4:30 a.m. to get into the office for 7.15am but that’s what commuter life is like in Navan. It’s worse again if you start at 9:00 a.m. you can’t even get on a bus they just fly past you.
@Alex Kane: have a bit of respect I’m probably paying your dole payments. Leech.
@P. V. Aglue: I believe we are going to be proceeding towards consultation stage with the train. I’m only new to Navan (3 years) so I’m full of optimism for it because I haven’t had to wait as long as the locals! It’s the hope that kills you though…..
@Fiona Wyse: Yea, the country is like a prison on the roads rn, regardless of preference
Desperation stakes from the Greens now.On their way to oblivion on Nov. 29th.
@Willie Marty: Have Francis Noel & Catherine come out of hiding yet or are they building the wall to stop people who don’t have any homes, from looking into their kitchen, counting the Lolly. Greens are the party of Hypocrites.
Not forgotten rte 750mill pay off turdby etc should be impartial etc
But no council houses near any of their high profile members ,nooooo…
Another crackpot idea from labour I’m sure all buisness will be thrilled
@Sheila McNulty: sorry was supposed to be Greens
@Sheila McNulty: do, we need tax fat cats or keep croling wat u thing…
FG article no comments active hmmm???
The Greens are on the wrong track on this program. Extended hols not justified, as it reduces public services productivity, which benefits most, & increases general economic activity costs, with no productivity boost.
When will political wanabees listen to the O’Learys, who know how to run business, and their own Economists?
This is an escaping Celtic Elephant trampling on the stability of the economy, a bunch of desparadoes outbidding the others on the same destructive tack.
Hope they are obliterated, them and liebor
@John Meade: I hope things happens to then that I can’t say on here
sure ffg just ignore citizen assemblies.. they implemented none of the citizen assemblies recommendations on disabilities or strategy on drug use…
Nuke them from space. It’s the only way to be sure.
I used to work a three day week and it was brilliant.
Excellent proposals, feck the begrudgers. Green Party only ones brave enough to tackle the climate crisis, everyone else sticking their heads onnthe sand. A poor decision with all the flooding caused by climate change
@FoxyBoiiYT: I think they’ll do okay, saying all the right things, but you know, just not doing them
Nothing can save the Vegan fruitcake party now.
I would rather work 5x 8h than 4x 10h to make up the lost day. 4 day work week might work for some but not all. In many industries it’s not possible that everyone is off at the same time.
@no no no: 5×8 hours? hope thats not breaking stone. Like everything people should be allowed do whatever they want as long as the work is delivered complete and on time. I think that could work in any industry. Certainly billionaire’s don’t care as long as revenue streams aren’t effected.
I’d rather work than see this skum back in
They are getting desperate! Making up stuff now, like child when they know they’re in trouble and finally have to face the headmaster!
have your say