Nicolas Sarkozy’s defeat in the French presidential election makes him the first incumbent in more than 30 years to fail to win re-election, and the ninth European leader to be booted out since the region’s debt crisis began.
Sanctioned for his flamboyant personal style and slowing economic growth, Sarkozy lost to Socialist Francois Hollande, who got about 52 percent of the vote against 48 percent, polling estimates showed. Sarkozy is the second French president to lose a re-election bid since World War II after former President Valery Giscard d’Estaing was vanquished in 1981.
“After 35 years of politics, after 10 years at the highest levels of government, after five years as head of state, I will become a Frenchman among the French,” Sarkozy said last night, conceding defeat.
Coming at the 8:00 AM, Bill will discuss why this election matters--and how it could affect you.
