Francois Hollande has been sworn in as president of France, becoming the first Socialist leader in 17 years to occupy the Elysee Palace.
He said he was aware of the challenges ahead, including the debt crisis, and vowed to “open a new path in Europe”.
He will later name his prime minister and fly to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Hollande called for “a compromise” over the German-led focus on austerity as the way out of the eurozone crisis.
On Monday, the value of stock markets and the euro fell amid continuing political uncertainty in Greece.
The chairman of the eurozone finance ministers, Jean-Claude Juncker, insisted on Monday night that they would do “everything possible” to keep Greece in the euro. (BBC)
