“The British people have decided to leave. It is a sad decision but one which I respect. The vote puts the European Union in difficulties. It must recognise its shortfalls.”

French politician, president of France

François Hollande is a French politician who served as President of France from 2012 to 2017. He also held leading local and national offices, including First Secretary of the Socialist Party, mayor of Tulle, and president of the General Council of Corrèze. He represented the 1st constituency of Corrèze in the National Assembly in three separate periods, first from 1988 to 1993, then from 1997 to 2012, and again from 2024 onward. His public career is tied to French party politics and elected office at both the local and national level.