
Emmanuel Macron has become France’s youngest ever president, officially taking over from François Hollande.
Macron, a 39-year-old centrist, arrived at the Élysée Palace in central Paris on Sunday in a motorcade and walked down the red carpet under light rain to be greeted by Hollande for his inauguration. The new president’s wife, Brigitte, arrived separately.
A week after his victory over far-right leader Marine Le Pen in a tumultuous election, Macron had a private meeting with Hollande at which he was given the codes to launch France’s nuclear weapons.
Hollande left the Élysée to applause from palace employees and the president of the constitutional council, Laurent Fabius, proclaimed the official result of the vote, formally inaugurating Macron.
Macron formally took power after his predecessor, Socialist Francois Hollande, met with him for one hour and left.