Exchanging power

Outgoing French President Francois Hollande (left) welcoming incoming French President Emmanuel Macron before the latter’s swearing-in ceremony at the Elysee Palace in Paris.

PARIS: As president, Francois Hollande (pic) steered France through deadly extremist attacks, poured troops into battle abroad and anchored the boldest-ever world agreement to fight global warming.

But as he handed power yesterday to former protege Emmanuel Macron after a five-year term, he may be most remembered for his failure to create jobs and his crushing unpopularity.

The Socialist leader comforted and united his nation during its worst terrorist attacks in decades.

Following the January 2015 attacks at the office of the Charlie Hebdo

magazine and a supermarke t ,

Hollande proved to be a statesman who brought world leaders together to link arms and march through Paris to defy extremism.

In November 2015, Hollande faced the deadliest attacks inflicted on France since World War II when 130 people were slain in Paris at restaurants, at a concert venue and outside a stadium.

“When terrorists can commit such atrocities, they must know that they will face a determined, united France,” he declared.

Over the years, he went from what some considered flimsy custard to a strong chief of war.

Since September 2014, France’s jet fighters have been bombing IS targets in Iraq as part of the US-led coalition – and extended that operation to Syria from September 2015.

During Hollande’s term, France achieved a seemingly unachievable triumph: uniting the world to seal a global climate pact on Dec 12, 2015.

Despite his diplomatic successes, Hollande was highly unpopular at home, presiding over a jobless rate of around 10%.

His poll numbers quickly dropped after he came to power. He promoted a 75% tax on income

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earned above 1mil (RM4.7mil) that triggered huge protests in the business, sports and artistic worlds. The super tax was ultimately abandoned, but it still damaged France’s image in global business circles. — AP