mr. hollande on the front page again. hollande saying, "it is never your fault, is it, mr. president?" the president says, "mr. hollande, i am not your pe upil." in 2007, there was a feeling that sarkozy was condescending. this time, mr. hollande has the confidence of a candidate. >> a key battleground now. >> if i can just show you the scene here -- we have 2,000 years of history next to me. in all the example of roman architecture. it tells you that the history in this part of france -- the old industries dominate here. firming, winemaking, textiles. there is a high unemployment above the national average. villages around places like me that the voters in the first round of the votes -- of course, they did well. it was here that they enjoyed their biggest success. the question we will be asking all day, what does the debate mean to people here? will those votes go to either of the two candidates? the simple answer is there is huge and disillusionment here with the mainstream. they do not think they've gotten the answers from mr. sarkozy or mr. hollande. le pen said they should go wit

the victory of francois hollande, says "the prirsian," showing him in his home police base. the other paper, who was strongly in support of mr. sarkozy, has an editorial talking about the change that is coming to france. this paper, which had supported francois hollande, talking about normal, this was the victory of mr. normal, a counterpart they think to the bling of president sarkozy. well, it was an extraordinary night in paris as people celebrated late into the night. let's get this report from our paris correspondent, christian fraser. >> they jumped, they danced, they sipped beer and champagne. the red rose of the socialist party blooming again at the end of a long winter in opposition. >> we waited for francois hollande, and some of these people have waited over 17 years for this moment. this is a historic night for paris. it's the first time the capital city has voted for a socialist president, and here he is! >> mr. hollande feeds a renewed sense of hope that amid the use territories and cuts, there can be jobs and salaries, perhaps some cause for optimism. >> i have heard your will for change. i have heard your str

mr. hollande is a torchbearer for a new europe. it makes the financial markets nervous.in paris, broadly speaking, there is a renewed sense of optimism. >> i think he raises a lot of hope, yes. >> together for so long. and we think it should be all right. >> maybe go to london and leave france, because this program is not really what i expect for france. >> franÇois hollande put young, french people at the heart of his campaign. they have rejected austerity. a challenge to the german leadership of europe. >> it is a result that gives hope to other people, he said, this change. but there is fear that this could persuade other european governments to deviate from cuts and reform. overnight, the europe slumped to its lowest in months. the german chancellor was swift to react. "it is a matter of course that mr. hollande be welcomed in germany, and we are looking forward to essential cooperation." it should be added very soon, she added. may 15, and then soon after, the key, anticipated meeting with the german chancellor. the language is positive. but this will not go down we

mr. hollande wants is to be a more low-key presidency. it might not have looked that way as people gathered for the inauguration ceremony, speculating on what to make up of the first cabinet of this new socialist president. and then the outgoing president made his final exit from the presidential stage with his first lady. in the palace, the new president has a ceremonial trappings of office bestowed upon him, but france and the rest of europe was waiting to hear what his first political message on the job would be against the backdrop of new euro zone alarms. he reiterated his election call for new growth strategy. >> a number of people, especially in europe, are waiting and watching us. the crisis is hitting europe. growth.eneeds we should look into public that and stimulation of the economy -- public debt. >> his thoughts were probably already focusing on his meetings later in the day with chancellor merkle. he will get a warm welcome. rents and germany will have to work together, but they aren't by no means driving in the same directi

mr. hollande, president hollande, as you will be, will visit berlin party will immediately from his installation as president -- president hollande, as he will be, will visit berlin almost immediately from his installation as president. he will be greeted with open arms, but also with lots of questions and a conundrum. this is the with the tabloid puts it tomorrow. that is the tone. you can see her gesture in front of the media. we live with this situation. we might not like it. we are going to press on. the recognition of difficulties yet to be addressed in berlin here. >> what are the options open to germany on this? >> sure. on agrees, it is a difficult one -- on greece, it is a difficult one. i can imagine how things might unfold with france. certainly, more talk of growth. you may get an assertion -- you will definitely get an assertion that the deals done on austerity will stick and they will not be renegotiated. in a way, that's the only way they can do it. renegotiating the whole thing will set the market's a light, as you might expect. a little bit more free with its money. a little bit

mr. hollande has remained calm. it is mr. sarkozy needs to come out of this with momentum for his campaign. bbc news, paris. >> here in america, newt gingrich has officially ended his bid for the republican presidential nomination. he only managed to win two state contests in a campaign that is reported to be $4 million in debt. for more, i turn to the north america editor mark mardell. mark, thank you up for coming in. has newt gingrich endorsed mitt romney then? >> i do not think he has. he did a review of his entire career in great detail, including the 27 books he has written. he talked about religious liberty to energy policy. and very quickly in a couple lines, he also said he was the last to admit he was a conservative, comparing him to the most radical left-wing president the united states had ever had. and that was it. the answer is -- not really. >> does this mean it has lost >> the cycle has been about trying to find a candidate that is not mitt romney. but they had enormous influence. they pushed mitt romney into

mr. hollande vowed to put everything on the table. >> becomes to growth, it is certainly right. but so far, this word has not been properly explained. but i am happy this topic -- growth -- is back in talks. we must work together. >> both leaders expressed a wish for greece to stay in the eurozone. >> we agreed on this, that we want greece to stay in the euro. the majority in greece want it to stay that way keeping promises made must be kept. -- stay that way. promises made must be kept. >> the challenge for mr. hollande and chancellor merkel is to reassure investors that can make compromises and resolve differences. tonight, they made an edgy start. bbc news, berlin. >> for more on this news from europe today, i was joined by the assistant managing editor of -- magazine from new york. >> just how important is this relationship? >> is incredibly important. the french-german relationship was the basis of the founding of post-war europe, not to mention the eurozone and it is incredibly warm for this relationship to get back on track. if the score countries do not have a firm relat

mr. hollande to remain committed. >> mr. hollande made clear in the election campaign any decisions in the next stage will be taken in consultation with nato allies. >> nato leaders plan to complete the withdrawal from afghanistan by the end of 2014. >>> officials with iran's foreign ministry are weighing in, too, saying they hope his election will open up a new era in iranian ties with the french. >>> sarkozy's defeat shows his policies on iran were wrong and historically the two countries have had close relations. sarkozy has been one of the most vocal critics of tehran's nuclear program. >>> the leader of greece's ni democracy party said he has given up hope of forming a coalition government. he held talks and the heads of all but pasok refused to join a coalition. they oppose the austerity measures. and samaras said he abandoned the talks even before the end of the three days he had to build a government. the chance to build a ruling coalition will now pass to the radical leader of the left coalition but alexis tsipras sa

mr. hollande put germany on notice. >> i will propose a new pact which will combine the necessary reduction in public debt with the indispensable stimulation of the economy. >> there is no time for president hollande to enjoy the trappings of state. he takes power at a time of record debt and huge unemployment. his campaign inspired hope. can he transform that into jobs and growth? to compound the problem, the latest figures show that the french economy has stagnated make it much harder to fulfil election promises. >> the efforts will be made and political decisions will be taken with an idea of justice and fairness. >> the omens are gloomy. not only did the new economic figures rain on his parade, his flight to berlin was struck by lightning. his policies are a challenge to angela merkel and he would like to change the relationship and put france on equal footing. >> in other news, a man has set himself on fire outside of the courthouse where anders breivik has been tried. he poured a flammable liquid over himself and was running towards the building and he was stopped. he is in the hospit

mr. hollande insists there are other ways to trigger economic growth. the president-elect's plan promises more government spending and more government jobs. he also had plans to increase taxes on wealthy individuals and on corporations with the individual top rate going, if he has his way, to 75%. mr. sarkozy, meanwhile, thanked his supporters on sunday, saying he tried his best to win reelection despite widespread anger at his handling of the economy. he took full responsibility for his defeat. the french president lost a second term by 4% of the vote. >>> turning now to greece where voters are also fed up with auss tearty measures taking it out on their politicians in yesterday's parliamentary elections, a majority of greeks came out against the country's two major parties, rejecting support of the international bailout. instead, voters are backing smaller, sometimes fringe groups that oppose aus terty. the future of the country's $171 billion rescue package is now in doubt. not only could greece go bankrupt, but it could also put the country's europe

mr. hollande clearing values. >> i think she can be very useful to him. i think she was. she knows the ropes. she knows the profession. she knows politics. carla bruni didn't know anything about politics. that's a big difference. >> twice divorced, she has three teenage children. i did not choose a public life, she said recently, i chose francois. indeed she did. and in the wings but still very much on the stage is the woman whose man she stole, the mother of his four children and a former presidential candidate herself. and if that makes life difficult, what about the act ms. trierwieller has to follow? the supermodel, carla bruni, always did outshine the other first ladies on the international stage. her problem was down playing glamour. no such problem for valerie trierwieller. she shops for her clothes in the market and spends most of her spare time, she says, searching for clothes under her children's beds. yet her intimate knowledge of the media and her wariness of it has at times made her distant, to the point of appearing cold. one of mrs. sarkozy's supporters ren

mr. hollande decided not to am come he sent a few emissaries. the question you asked before is a key one. without does he appoint now. will he appoint people like fabous, elizabeth gigou who are known in washington, and who are considered to be safe hands. that's going to be one of the first important statements that it takes by the appointment of the people. and the second thing to watch is whether or not he becomes as most presidents do, seduced by the appeal of foreign affairs. so far he has given every indication that he will concentrate a lot on the nitty-gritty of governance in france. and not become a monarch and not become wrapped up in wars and foreign policy. he wants to work on the economy. we'll see if he can stick to that resolve. sometimes you don't have a choice. you get drawn into it because you have, because the nature of the office. not because you just find it more interesting and you have more power than you do sometimes over domestic affairs. >> but you know, charlie, that's right. it's been interesting to watch francois hol

mr. hollande @ rehm,. it is president sarkozy who needs to come out of this wealtwith momentum for his camp. >> the u.s. security council has threatened sedan and south sudan -- sudan and south sudan. they want to renew talks. at least 20 people have been killed on an attack on the ministry of defense in cairo. they were protesting about the exclusion of a hard-line islamist candidate in the upcoming election. ukraine has insisted it will host the 2012 matches. authorities have denied she has been beaten in prison. she was jailed for abuse of office. unemployment had a fresh high of nearly 11%. critics say politicians have prioritized austerity at the expense of jobs and growth. newt gingrich has pulled out of the republican race for the white house. he did not immediately endorse his rival, mitt romney. he described him last week as certain to become the republican nominee. >> today i am suspending the campaign, but suspending the campaign does not mean suspending citizenship. >> he managed to win two sta

mr. hollande, the socialist candidate for president making it much more likely that mr. hollande will win. the markets are concerned about that. >> all right. facebook is the big story today. >> please. >> strek turing it in a way that zuckerberg has total control of his company. it probably goes much higher than that but is this going to be run like private company? zuckerberg has virtual control. >> they are selling class a shares. the ones that have the voting power has the class b shares. they are not selling any class b shares. he's in control of the company. out on the street, this is like the great no-brainer ipo of all time. it's not a valuation play. nobody has any idea where the stock is going to price. 28 to 35, what happens if there's 50 times oversubscribed. we don't know. we literally don't know. there are estimates all over the place. but demand is going to be titanic at this point. that's for sure. >> and, guys, let's talk about that. i want to bring you into this conversation for a moment on facebook. would you be a buyer at the ipo? >> absolutely no comm

change in politics germany might well have to listen to other voices which we have to see whether mr hollande actually argues well you know let's not throw greece out too fast let's see whether perhaps the terms that we insisted on are perhaps needlessly onerous or are self-defeating as he would argue and germany is at least going to have to listen to that sort of argument whether it except sort are not in the end is another question but it cannot politically afford to be seen simply dismissing the views of let's say the french government and i must apologize to mr burt i'm running very very low on time but i do want to ask you one final question before we go the fitch ratings agency has just announced that if greece abandons the euro it will consider downgrading all eurozone nations what are your thoughts on that as. well in a sense of it downgrades from or it doesn't really matter because it is relative gradings that matter above all that aside the so-called spreads that is the differences between the interest rate paid by one country and another country yes it would maybe make it more diff

mr. hollande, who has made it clear that he will stick to its campaign promises of pulling out troops thisear. >> any position that would be taken in coordination and after consultation with allies. we will coordinate with the new administration in france and the coming days and weeks. i filled confidence that's -- i feel confident that we will find solutions that will maintain the solidarity within our lines. >> but it is increasingly clear that international support for the mission in afghanistan is crumbling? the french people voted along the lines that they want their troops home. >> all allies and partners have to stay committed to our operation so far, but actually, we are gradually changing the character of our mission. of course, we are gradually handing over these responsibilities of security to the afghan security forces. during that process, you will see a gradual change in the role of our troops from combat to more and more focus on support, and you will also see a gradual drawdown of our troops, but in a coordinated fashion. >> the secretary-general of nato there speaking to m

mr. hollande insisted only on a single live debate. he is not known for his tv performances. rupert murdoch has it back and criticism and a group of british mp's. u.k. committee concluded that he had shown a willful blindness to what was going on at news corp. mr. murdoch admitted mistakes had been made in an e-mail to staff, but said the company is working hard to put things right and would emerge better and stronger from the phone hacking scandal. conrad black will be allowed to live in canada after he is released from prison in the u.s., even though he gave up his canadian citizenship 11 years ago. his imminent return to canada has led to criticism that he is receiving special treatment from the government. he was convicted in 2007 on charges of fraud and obstruction of justice. a verdict is expected shortly in the in quest of the death of british mi6 intelligence officer whose body was found in a sports bag in his flat. the coroner said he would not consider the verdict of unlawful killing of gareth williams. instead, he is expected to give a negative verdict summarizing

mr. hollande being in charge. marine le pen said she will vote blank if at all.his is a much more interesting election from purely macroeconomic points of view. i think mr. hollande makes very good points. austerity is an extremely damaging philosophy. we absolutely immediate to see growth. >> it seems on the face of things that it could get very messy. >> it's very clear that the euro land experiment has not been cured by the scheduling of the greek debt position. we'll have the greek elections and they say we don't like what you're doing to us, and i still favor the international exporter, intern making at earnings. thinking about what's going on in china. >> james, thank you very much. coming up right here on "worldwide exchange," the greeks are also heading to the polls. major parties are seen taking a big hit following widespread public discontent over painful austerity measures. we have the details. in here, great food demands a great presentation. so at&t showed corporate caterers how to better collaborate by using a mobile solution, in a whole new way. us

mr. hollande is an interesting figure.he routinely described as a moderate socialist. >> like president obama! >> fine. if he -- >> just kidding! >> i think that is -- pretty centrist. and he wants to let up on the gas on that austerity. and he may be able to force merkel to do that. that's a good thing. he's not going to walk away from the austerity package. >> greece is two months from dropping out of the european at least $2 billion from a failed hedging strategy was felt around the globe. by assets j.p. morgan chase is the biggest bank in the u.s. the errors are@ ja rule, ad -d@t fmer aithe fera >> i know it was done with the intention to -- j.p. morgan chase, but i'm telling you it morph ode diver and the new strategy meant to reduce the hedge overall made it more complex, more risky, and it was unbelievably ineffective. we do believer we need to have the able to hedge in a ceo type position and that volcker allows that. this trading -- may violate the rule but violates the diamond principle. >> question, will it set

mr. hollande prepares for power, there is uncertainty over how this crucial debate over austerity and growth will be resolved. >> 7 hewitt reporting. al jazeera says it has been close -- it has been forced to close its bureau in china after exports reporter was expelled after being in beijing for five years. al jazeera has said it will continue to push coverage in china. the report from inside syria following parliamentary elections. >> and the boats made from bric- a-brac. let us look at the stories making headlines in newspapers around the world. the picture says it all. the headline certainly does. as greek and french voters threw down a challenge to germany's chancellor markell, if she is feeling lonely, she can still count on one is the logical ally -- britain's david cameron. the prime minister has vowed never going back on cuts. the election may have implications for more than just austerity, says "the times." the french president will focus upon on building renewable energy, not reaction -- not reactors. yesterday, there was news of a bailout, and announcement of a chairman's resigna

mr. hollande promised to balance the budget in the nearest future. france hasn't had one since 1974. so both candidates are basically agreed that the country has to rein in its public finances and also get to a more stable path in the future. the problem is how to get there and who's going to pay for it. >> hard to get there and who's going to pay for it, questions a lot of eurozone questions will answer. >> rachel, thank you so much indeed for bringing us those critical business stories. now, if we can, for the first time in more than 40 years, japan will no longer generate any of its electricity from nuclear power. before the disaster at fukushima last year, japan had 54 nuclear reactors, supplied nearly a third of the country's energy needs. the last one is being switched off on saturday for routine maintenance, but local communities have refused to approve its restarting. here's our correspond, roland buerk. >> once it was a symbol of japan's belief in a nuclear future. the biggest nuclear power station in the world. we were taken through the heavy, water-tight doors, into the ma

mr. hollande, i'm sure you know, has suggested he was not happy with his predecessors taking france back into nato. he said he would likely withdraw france's 2,500 troops from afghanistan this year rather than next. although he has tilted toward less austerity, he has also talked about defense spending needing to be cut further. so, i know you will probably say, well, we have to wait and see what the post-election realities are, but since we are here and on stage and you are such a good source on this, how do you analyze this? >> of course, we have to wait and see. [ laughter ] >> but i think one of the unique features of nato is it's an organization of 28 democracies. so this is partly the first time a government has changed while i've been there or, indeed, which is happening all the time. 27 governments have changed in the time i have been here. the french socialists are not strangers for the united states. they shouldn't be strangers. it has been true that it has been 17 years since the socialists were in power at the presidency. of course, they ran the government about a decade ago

the current failed policies of mr sarkozy or indeed we see an end of his look at unix systems and mr hollande conceded it's still on for she going to be a disaster. and a socialist triumph in france in greece and the elections have seen flashes making big gains as a sitting government takes a kicking from voters series over economic hardships. later in the program we see how the extreme left the as golden dawn party looks set to enter the greek parliament for the first time in the way stock demonstration yet of voters rejecting this thirty imposed by leaders. just as bloody needed putin prepares to take office a russian fugitive is offering big money for his arrest exiled a russian tycoon the bar is a bit of lawsky is reportedly offering a bounty to anyone who detains putin at the no gration our correspondent i have a bennett has details from london. what is plan is to have putin arrested for what he calls the illegal seizing of power so he's offering up a bounty what used to be fifty million rubles but now one new source in russia is claiming that he's increased that ten times to five hundre

the current failed policies of mr sarkozy or indeed we see an end of his liberty in existence and mr hollande conceded it's still on for she got to be a disaster just as well as him at a portent prepares to take office and russian fugitive as offering big money for his arrest exiled russian tycoon buddies with his off ski is reportedly offering a ballot to anyone who details putin our panel here if so our correspondent ivan bennett joins us live from london with the details ira so what exactly is the exile the oligarchs plan. what is plan is to have putin arrested for what he calls the illegal seizing of power so he's offering up a bounty what used to be fifteen million rubles but now one new source in russia is claiming that he's increased that ten times to five hundred million rubles which is which equates to around seventeen million dollars and he's offering that anyone basically any member of the public who will. arrest the president elect who he calls a highly dangerous criminal ahead of his inauguration on monday so he's advertising this bounty on his facebook pages live journal blog wh

the current field policies of mr sarkozy or indeed we see an end of his look at unix systems and mr hollande it's still on for she going to be a disaster and socialist trial in france and greece the elections have seen fascist making big gain as the sitting government takes a kicking from voters furious over economic hardship. later in the program we see how the extreme nationalist golden dawn party looks set to enter the greek parliament for the first time and the most stark example yet of voter rejection of the austerity imposed by the new leadership. and a bounty on bloody medical turn of seventeen million dollars as fugitive exiled russian oligarch and bodies a bizarre ski offers a big bucks to anyone willing to try to seize the russian leader at his presidential inauguration on monday. opposition activists have clashed with police in central moscow after defying orders to move to the officially agreed location for their rally the anti-government protest dubbed the march of millions was timed for the eve of losing their putin's presidential inauguration are two years artie's you go to th

the current field policies of mr sarkozy or indeed we see an end of his look at unix systems and mr hollande comes in it's still on for she going to be a disaster watch for france becoming argentina about nine hundred seventy five that's my breath that's my prediction for today you're on a roll their. executive director of the investment advisory firm david visors always a good to have you on the program thank you thank you right now we'll be bringing you more coverage from france of course as the voting progress is with plenty of analysis and opinion on the crucial what it's going to mean for the country of course here on r.t. . police and bahrain of detained the head of the country center for human rights without explanation known for his firm opposition to the ruling regime was arrested days before an interview with the world's top whistleblower julian assange is due to wear on this channel the civil rights leader was already facing charges of participating in protests against the government and was returning to bahrain indeed for a sunday court hearing the uprising is bigger going on now