Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has invited French President-elect Francois Hollande to visit Palestinian territories, Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.
Abbas congratulated Hollande on winning Sunday’s second round of presidential elections in France. The French president-elect, to take office on May 15, said he was ready to meet with the Palestinian leader.
In a telephone conversation, Abbas wished Hollande success for his country’s progress, prosperity and greater role on the regional and international arena.
Hollande, an opposition leader of the French Socialist Party, was elected France’s new president in Sunday’s runoff. He was supported by 51.62 percent of the voters, while incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy got 48.38 percent in the May 6 vote.
Hollande will be France's first Socialist president since Francois Mitterrand who served two seven-year terms in 1981-1995.