Francois Hollande vs Robert Schuman

Hollande defeated incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy in the presidential election, winning 51.6% of the vote. His campaign promised to renegotiate the EU fiscal compact, raise taxes on the wealthy, and stimulate growth, marking a shift to the left.

Hollande's government passed the law allowing same-sex marriage and adoption, making France the 14th country to do so. The law faced strong opposition from conservative groups and sparked large protests, but was upheld by the Constitutional Council.

Hollande declared a state of emergency and ordered airstrikes against ISIS in Syria after coordinated terrorist attacks in Paris killed 130 people. He also proposed a constitutional amendment to strip convicted terrorists of French citizenship.

Schuman served as Prime Minister from November 1947 to July 1948, leading a coalition government during the early Fourth Republic. His government focused on economic recovery, the Marshall Plan, and maintaining stability amid labor unrest and the onset of the Cold War.

As Foreign Minister from 1948 to 1953, Schuman drove European integration, including the ECSC and the proposed European Defence Community. He also supported NATO and the Council of Europe, shaping France's post-war foreign policy toward reconciliation with Germany and European unity.

As French Foreign Minister, Schuman proposed the Schuman Declaration on May 9, 1950, calling for the pooling of French and German coal and steel production under a supranational authority. This led to the creation of the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC), the foundation of the European Union.

Schuman served as the first President of the European Parliamentary Assembly (predecessor to the European Parliament) from 1958 to 1960. He continued to advocate for European federalism, though his influence waned as de Gaulle's more nationalist policies gained prominence.