He was born in in Rouen, Seine-Maritime, and is a graduate of HEC, Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences Po) and ENA, and his former profession was as councillor in the Court of Accounts.
In 2004, he took the position of 'yes' on the French referendum on the European Constitution, thus opposing number two of the party, Laurent Fabius. Hollande organised an internal vote on the party's position on December 1, in which representatives voted with 59% margin for 'yes', but the constitution was eventually defeated by the French public in May 2005.
His partner was former French presidential candidate Ségolène Royal, with whom he has four children - Thomas (1984), Clémence (1985), Julien (1987) and Flora (1992). In June 2007, just a month after the French presidential election of 2007, the couple announced that they were separating.
Shortly after his split from Ségolène Royal was announced, the French website lepolitique.com published details of a relationship between Hollande and a French journalist, Valérie Trieweiler. Many considered this to be a breach of France's strict stance on politicians' personal privacy. In November 2007, Valérie Trieweiler discussed openly her relationship with Hollande in an interview with French weekly Télé 7 Jours.
He is seen as a leading contender for the socialist nomination as candidate for the 2012 presidential election.
Political careeer
Electoral mandates European Parliament
* Member of European Parliament : 1999-2002 (Resignation, reelected member of the National Assembly of France in 2002).
National Assembly of France
* Member of the National Assembly of France for Corrèze : 1988-1993 / 1997-1999 (Became member of European Parliament 1999) / And since 2002. Elected in 1988, reelected in 1997, 2002, 2007.
Regional Council
* Vice-president of the Regional Council of Limousin (region) : 1998-2001 (Resignation).
* Regional councillor of Limousin (region) : 1998-2001 (Resignation).
General Council
* President of the General Council of Corrèze : Since 2008.
* General councillor of Corrèze : Since 2008.
Municipal Council
* Mayor of Tulle : 2001-2008 (Resignation).
* Deputy-mayor of Tulle : 1989-1995.
* Municipal councillor of Tulle : 1989-2008 (Resignation). Reelected in 1995, 2001.
* Municipal councillor of Ussel, Corrèze : 1983-1989.
Political functions
* First Secretary (leader) of the Socialist Party (France) : 1997-2008. Reelected in 2000, 2003, 2005.
