Celebration and defeat in France

François Hollande arrives with his companion Valerie Trierweiler to give a speech in Tulle, France, after winning the second round of voting in the presidential election. (Fred Dufour / AFP/Getty Images)

March 24, 2014 10 PM PT

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Socialist François Hollande has been elected president of France, defeating incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy, who became the first French president in more than 30 years to lose reelection.

French citizens celebrate the election results at Place de la Bastille. (Pascal Le Segretain / Getty Images)

French incumbent president Nicolas Sarkozy speaks to supporters in Paris after conceding defeat to François Hollande. (Christophe Karaba / EPA)

At Place de la Bastille in Paris, supporters of François Hollande react as poll results are announced on French television. (Ian Langsdon / EPA)

A supporter of outgoing French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s Union for a Popular Movement cries as the preliminary results in the presidential election are announced at UMP headquarters in Paris. (Jacques Brinon / Associated Press)