Rain on Francois Hollande's parade

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WORLD NEWS

New French leader Francois Hollande gets soaked on drive in Paris yesterday

By Peter Allen

NEW French President Francois Hollande yesterday discovered it never rains but it pours when his aircraft was struck by lightning shortly after he was drenched in an open-top motorcade.

The Socialist leader, 57, was bound for a key eurozone meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin when his plane was hit on take-off from Paris. Mr Hollande was unharmed and later took another flight.

Earlier he was left soaked while waving to crowds in the Champs-Elysees after being sworn in as successor to the defeated Nicolas Sarkozy.

Pomp turned to soggy embarrassment as a heavy downpour drenched Mr Hollande?s jacket and left him peering through wet glasses, while no doubt wondering why no one had thought to close his car?s sunroof.

?He looks like he has been swimming in his suit,? said Socialist Party activist Genevieve Bernard, 22. ?It is so sad, because today should be a day of triumph.?

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