Photo Gallery A Handshake Instead of a Kiss
Prior to their meeting in Berlin on Tuesday night, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President François Hollande had never met before. When Merkel greeted Hollande, she did so with a handshake rather than the hugs she had typically given his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy.
Here, the leaders are shown in conversation on the terrace of the Chancellery in Berlin, Merkel's official office.
Some observers have suggested that, despite their political differences, Merkel and Hollande may have more compatible personalities and may be able to work together even better than Merkel did with Nicolas Sarkozy.
The Bundeswehr, Germany's military, appeared in an honorary formation as Hollande walked the red carpet at the Chancellery.
In the end, politesse trumped politics during their meeting on Tuesday.
Hollande arrived 80 minutes late for his meeting. After lightning struck the French president's plane, he was forced to return to Paris and then depart again in a different plane. The substitute jet that flew Hollande to Berlin is pictured here, parked in the military section of Tegel Airport.
Soaking wet: France's new president, François Hollande, was inaguarated on Tuesday during a rain shower.
Here, President Hollande, the first Social Party leader of France since François Mitterrand, waves to a crowd from his car as he leaves the official presidential office, Elysée Palace, after the handover ceremony.
Here, outgoing President Nicolas Sarkozy can be seen as he hands over his office to Hollande on Tuesday.
Scores of photographers on motorcycles accompanied Hollande's motorcade on Tuesday morning as he drove to the handover ceremony.
A grand ceremony: The red carpet lines the courtyard of Elysée Palace as part of the pomp and circumstance of the handover ceremony.
French President-elect François Hollande's companion Varie Trierweiler (right) stands next to outgoing President Nicolas Sarkozy's wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy before the ceremony.
Heartfelt greetings on the stairs of the palace.
Supporters of French President-Elect François Hollande gather outside Elysée Palace.
Outgoing President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy depart Elysée Palace after Hollande is sworn in as Sarkozy's successor. French newspapers are reporting that the couple plan to take two weeks of vacation together. Afterwards, Sarkozy is expected to return to his former career as a lawyer.
Here, camera teams can be seen lining the rooftop of Elysée Palace during the handover ceremony.
François Hollande is awarded "Grand Maitre" in the Order of the Legion of Honor. As president, Hollande will now be the "grand master" of the French Legion of Honor.
For most of the ceremony, Hollande maintained a serious expression, but here he was snapped with a brief smile on his face.
His first signature as president: Hollande signs a document after being named "Grand Maitre" of the French Legion of Honor.
Newly elected French President François Hollande waves to the crowd from his car as he leaves Elysée Palace after the handover ceremony. By then, the rain had already started to fall.
It didn't stop Hollande from completing the route though. Supporters unfolded their umbrellas, but Hollande simply ignored the rain.
In the end, he was soaking wet.
But his partner, Valerie Trierweiler, was protected by an umbrella as the couple arrived at a ceremony to pay respect to the unknown soldier at the Arc de Triomphe on Tuesday.
