What would a Hollande presidency mean for France and Europe?

Speaking to Channel 4 News, Simon Tilford said that while Mr Hollande's policies on labour market reform and the retirement age were "antediluvian", some of his other ideas were reasonable. "He is right to allude to the risks of excessive fiscal austerity ... When he argues that fiscal austerity will do nothing on its own to address the eurozone crisis, he is on very strong ground. I don't think it would be wise for France to raise tax rates on the wealthy to that extent. But if we continue to see sluggish growth and rising inequality, the issue of tax rates will become steadily more divisive. I don't see how it is going to be politically possible for tax rates on the wealthy to remain at their current level. There will need to be a debate about appropriate tax rates for the wealthy and super-wealthy." Mr Tilford said Mr Hollande was unlikely to implement all of his policies. With Mr Hollande appealing to the left and President Sarkozy to the right, "we're going to hear both candidates say things they would be highly unlikely to pursue if elected".