Paris, May 6
Socialist Party challenger François Hollande Sunday wrested power from incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy to become the first Socialist president of France since 1988.
Hollande has beaten Sarkozy in a tight run-off election to win the presidency with 51.9 percent of the vote to Sarkozy's 48.1 percent, France 24 TV reported.
In the first round of the presidential polls April 22, Sarkozy had gained 27.18 percent of the vote against Hollande's 28.63 percent.
Hollande was leading in the opinion polls, with 52.5-53.5 percent saying they would vote for him.