Former French President Francois Hollande, who served as the country's leader from 2012 to 2017, has made a return to politics by being elected as a member of the French parliament for Corrèze, a region he previously represented in the 1980s and 1990s.
After deciding not to seek re-election for a second presidential term due to slim chances, Hollande was succeeded by his former economy minister, Emmanuel Macron.
Following a period of relative political retirement, Hollande re-entered the political arena, citing concerns about the rise of the far-right in France as a motivating factor.
Expressing his desire to contribute positively to the country, Hollande stated, 'How can I be useful? Having held the positions I’ve held, having made a certain number of demands on my country’s foreign policy, I could be useful in ensuring that France’s interests are preserved.'
During his presidency, Hollande notably championed the legalization of same-sex marriage and led France's response to a series of terrorist attacks that shook the nation.