Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 U.S. NEWS
Monday 15 May 2017

France’s unpopular Hollande leaves power after 5 hard years

SYLVIE CORBET France,” he declared
Associated Press France remains under a
PARIS (AP) — As president, state of emergency since
Francois Hollande steered then. Last year, another
France through deadly tragic attack killed 86 vic-
extremist attacks, poured tims in Nice on July 14,
troops into battle abroad France’s national Bastille
and anchored the boldest- Day holiday.
ever world agreement to Over the years, Hollande
fight global warming. turned from what some
But as he hands power Sun- considered flimsy custard
day to his former protege to become an active,
Emmanuel Macron, he strong chief of war.
may be most remembered In 2013, he launched a
for his failure to create jobs military operation in Mali
and his crushing unpopu- against al-Qaida-linked Is-
larity. lamist extremists who he
After a five-year term, Hol- believed posed a threat to
lande makes way for Ma- the African Sahel region.
cron, his former adviser The same year, he also sent
then economy minister, in troops the Central African
a ceremony at the Elysee Republic in an interven-
presidential palace. tion aimed at disarming
The Socialist leader, who ex-rebels and militias that
described himself as “nor- were pushing the country
mal,” was able to comfort toward anarchy.
and unite his nation during Since September 2014,
its worst terrorist attacks in France’s jet fighters have
decades. been bombing IS targets in
Following Jan. 2015 at- Iraq as part of the U.S.-led
tacks at satirical magazine coalition — and extended
Charlie Hebdo and a ko- that operation to Syria be- New French President Emmanuel Macron, right, watches outgoing President Francois Hollande
sher supermarket, Hollande ginning in September 2015. waves during Macron’s inauguration ceremony as French President, at the Elysee Palace Sunday,
May 14, 2017 in Paris.
proved to be a statesman During Hollande’s term, Associated Press
who brought world lead- France achieved a seem-
ers together to link arms ingly unachievable tri- page news. fully applied and ultimately There’s no doubt Hollande
and march through Paris to umph: uniting the world to Calling the agreement “his- abandoned, but it still dam- will remain associated in
defy extremism. seal a global climate pact. toric,” Hollande urged the aged France’s image in in- French minds with one im-
The emotional image of him The Paris climate agree- United States to respect it ternational business circles. age — that of a man in
hugging German Chancel- ment, adopted on Dec. 12, as “irreversible” following Meanwhile, the govern- a motorcycle helmet, re-
lor Angela Merkel, eyes 2015, was the culmination the election of President ment raised taxes on portedly going to a secret
shut, close to his cheek, of more than a year of in- Donald Trump, who is firmly French households. rendezvous with his lover,
was published around the tense diplomatic efforts by against regulations on busi- A pro-business turn in 2014, French actress Julie Gayet.
world. France. nesses. including policies to en- Hollande ended his seven-
In November 2015, Hol- In a unique gathering, 151 Despite his diplomatic suc- courage job hiring, didn’t year relationship with Val-
lande faced the deadliest heads of state came to cesses, Hollande remained produce the expected re- erie Trierweiler two weeks
attacks inflicted on France Paris to give the negotia- highly unpopular at home, sults for France’s economy. after the report. Gayet and
since World War II when tions a political push on the presiding over a jobless Some on the French left, Hollande have never ap-
130 people were slain in first day of the conference. rate of around 10 percent, including ones within his peared together in public.
Paris at restaurants, at a Hollande, as host of the which only starting to slight- Socialist party, accused Last December Hollande
concert venue and outside U.N. climate change con- ly decrease last year. Hollande of helping inter- look at his poll numbers
a stadium. ference, became com- His poll numbers quickly national businesses instead and announced he was
That night, Hollande vowed mitted to a cause that he dropped after he came to of French workers. not seeking re-election.
to attack the Islamic State once barely paid attention power. One year after his election, Despite the effort to pres-
group without mercy as to. He promoted a 75 percent Hollande was able to legal- ent a fresh leader to the
the jihadist group claimed At every meeting with a tax on income earned ize gay marriage and allow public, his Socialist party
responsibility. foreign leader and during above 1 million euros ($1.09 same-sex couples to adopt was crushed in the latest
“When terrorists can com- every visit abroad prior to million) that triggered huge children. The measure still presidential election, not
mit such atrocities, they the talks, he kept mention- protests in the business, prompted hundreds of even making it to the May
must know that they will ing the climate conference sports and artistic worlds. thousands to march for 7 runoff won by the inde-
face a determined, united even when it was not front- The super tax was never months in protest. pendent Macron.q