Laurent Cipriani / AP
French President Francois Hollande waves from his car as he drives down the Champs Elysees in Paris after his inauguration on May 15, 2012.
Christophe Ena / AFP - Getty Images
French President-elect Francois Hollande arrives for his inauguration on May, 15, 2012 at the Elysee Palace in Paris.
Reuters reports — Francois Hollande became French president on Tuesday in an official handover ceremony that makes him the country's first Socialist leader since Francois Mitterrand.
Outgoing President Nicolas
Hollande was due to fly to Berlin later in the day for his first meeting with German Chancellor Angela
'Monsieur Normal' takes office ... unmarried
French economy stalls, posing challenge for new president
Fred Dufour / AFP - Getty Images
Hollande is awarded "Grand Maitre" in the Order of the Legion of Honor, from chancellor of France's National Order of the Legion of Honor, General Jean-Louis Georgelin.
Mehdi Fedouach / AFP - Getty Images
Hollande, right, walks on the red carpet towards his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy prior to the start of the investiture ceremony.
Lionel Bonaventure / AFP - Getty Images
Sarkozy, left, welcomes his successor Hollande upon his arrival at the Elysee Palace.
Jacques Brinon / AP
Hollande's partner Valerie Trierweiler, right, shakes hands with Sarkozy's wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy before the presidential handover ceremony.
Jacky Naegelen / Reuters
Journalists work as a man sweeps the red carpet in the courtyard of the Elysee Palace.
Patrick Kovarik / AFP - Getty Images
Sarkozy and his wife leave the Elysee Palace after the formal investiture ceremony.
Reuters
Hollande stands up in his car as he rides in the rain up the Champs Elysees.
The current First Lady of France, Valerie Trierweiler, and the former, Carla Bruni, have captivated the world. NBC's Jim Maceda reports.
