Challenges Facing the New French President

French Socialist Party candidate Francois Hollande defeated incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy in France's May 6 presidential runoff election. The new president will immediately face a series of key commitments in a short period of time after taking office. Within his first month, Hollande will attend multiple crucial international summits that will begin to define the profile of his administration both in Europe and abroad.

Hollande will have to deal with these commitments while still building his administration and campaigning for French parliamentary elections in June. As a result, one can expect more campaign rhetoric than substantial decisions from Hollande in the short term. Meanwhile, the strong performance of France's far-right National Front party in the first round of presidential elections on April 22 highlights a Europe-wide trend of improving performances by parties long relegated to the political margins.