May 08 2012 |
more articles from
|
Lebanese officials congratulate Hollande
08 May 2012
BEIRUT: Lebanese politicians and officials sent letters of congratulations Monday to Francois Hollande, France’s newly elected president, after the Socialist candidate beat Nicolas Sarkozy in a runoff election.
“The French population chose you as a president for the upcoming five years. And by doing so, they expressed their support for your plans which shall include a new vision to address different challenges facing France and Europe,” wrote President Michel Sleiman in his letter of congratulations.
“Let me take this opportunity to greet you with my wishes of sustained well-being, and I hope that you will be able to advance with your mission. Lebanon and France have had a special relationship for centuries which is built on historic ties and common values. I am sure that the long established ties will become stronger during your mandate,” he wrote.
Speaker of Parliament Nabih Berri also congratulated Hollande and noted “the significance of the Lebanese-French relationship.”
“We respect the determination of any nation to elect its president, We need to greet the new president and wish him success,” he said.
Hollande edged the right-wing Sarkozy with just over 51 percent of the vote. Hollande is promising to cut against the grain in Europe and push back against the wave of austerity measures sweeping the area during the economic decline. He will officially become president on May 15 and has a long list of invitations for visits from governments in Europe and in the U.S.
It’s uncertain if he will be able to change the course of austerity measures in France.
© Copyright The Daily Star 2012.
© Copyright Zawya. All Rights Reserved.
Post Your Comment