Former French President Francois Hollande, who served from 2012 to 2017, has made a political comeback by being elected to the French parliament for Corrèze, a constituency he previously represented in the 1980s and 1990s.
Hollande chose not to seek a second term as president due to slim re-election prospects and was succeeded by his then-economy minister, Emmanuel Macron. After his presidency, Hollande largely stepped back from politics but decided to return, citing the far-right as a major threat to the country.
In an interview with BFM following his election, Hollande stated, “How can I be useful? Having held the positions I’ve held, having made a certain number of demands on my country’s foreign policy, I could be useful in ensuring that France’s interests are preserved.”
During his presidency, Hollande was noted for legalizing same-sex marriage and leading France’s response to several terror attacks.
In related news, President Emmanuel Macron has asked Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to remain in his position for the time being. Attal had submitted his resignation, but Macron refused to accept it, citing the need for stability. An Elysee source confirmed that the president has asked Attal to stay on “for the moment to ensure the stability of the country.”
