Azernews.Az

Francois Hollande`s honeymoon after his election as France`s first centre-left president in 17 years was cut short on Monday by jittery financial markets eager for signals on his policies and how hard he will push back against German-led austerity.

The Socialist beat conservative Nicolas Sarkozy with 51.7 percent of Sunday`s runoff vote after a bruising campaign dominated by the same anger over economic crisis that has felled 10 other European leaders since late 2009.

After jubilant left-wingers partied in the streets into the early hours in Paris, financial markets stuttered as the victory of anti-austerity parties in Greece, more than Hollande`s election, fuelled fears about a new chapter in Europe`s crisis.

Hollande, who delivered a victory speech in his rural base of Tulle in central France on Sunday before flying to Paris to address tens of thousands of supporters in historic Bastille square, admitted the festivities would have to be short-lived.

``There is a lot of joy and pride but also apprehension at taking on this responsibility at a difficult time for the country and for Europe,`` he said.

``In every capital, beyond the heads of state and government, there are people who have found hope thanks to us, who are looking to us and want to put an end to austerity.``

But, his chief economic adviser said, the new team was not coming in to power to ``hand out money``.

The new president is expected to be sworn in on May 15. Hollande will travel to Berlin shortly thereafter to challenge Germany`s focus on austerity policies and press new ideas for stimulating growth as fears about the euro zone`s debt crisis resurface following an inconclusive election in Greece.

The French woke up to Hollande, arms outstretched, beaming on the front pages of morning newspapers. Left-leaning daily Liberation ran the headline ``Normal!`` a reference to the new president`s image as a man of the people.

Arriving at his campaign headquarters in Paris on Monday morning, where he was due to hold discussions on forming a new government, Hollande emphasized that for the next few days at least conservative Nicolas Sarkozy remained in office.

``I must prepare myself. I said that I was ready and now I must make sure I am, completely,`` he told reporters.