President-Elect Francois Hollande to Set France on New Course

French President-elect Francois Hollande is to start work on forming a new government, after telling supporters his victory gave hope of an end to austerity.

Hollande has vowed to rework a deal on government debt in eurozone member-countries to focus on promoting growth.

The Socialist leader won just under 52 percent of votes in Sunday’s run-off election.

Center-right incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy is the first French president since 1981 not to win a second term.

He will hand power to Hollande on May 15, following talks between the two camps, the presidency has said.