Obama Congratulates Incoming French Socialist President

The White House says Obama told Francois Hollande that he looks forward to working with him on a range of shared economic and security challenges.

Obama invited Hollande to visit the White House before this month's G-8 summit at Camp David, Md. Hollande is also expected to attend the NATO summit in Chicago later this month.

Hollande campaigned on raising tax rates on the rich in France to 75% and blamed economic troubles on the defeated Sarkozy. Allahpundit summarized France's incoming Socialist president's policies:

Hollande intends to modify one of Sarkozy’s key reforms, over the retirement age, to allow some people to retire at 60 instead of 62. He also plans to increase spending in a range of sectors and wants to ease France off its dependence on nuclear energy. He favors legalizing euthanasia and gay marriage...

Like it or not, Hollande is going to play a major role on the world stage and in the European Union's ongoing budget crisis.