Hollande Says France Must Defend Values in Cold War Climate
- Outgoing French president sees democracy, freedom at risk
- Final New Year’s address targets National Front’s Le Pen
This article is for subscribers only.
French President Francois Hollande tells the French they have values to defend in the context of a new Cold War -- a reference to both geopolitics and the country’s looming presidential election.
“There are moments in history when everything can be toppled. We are living through one of those periods,” Hollande said in a televised speech from Paris. “Democracy, freedom, Europe and even peace -- all of these things have become vulnerable, reversible. We saw it with Brexit and with the U.S. election in November.”