Exclusive interview: FRANÇOIS HOLLANDE

Conference with François Hollande, former President of the Republic ( 2012 to 2017 ) and current Member of Parliament.

The former President of the Republic ( 2012 to 2017 ) and currently Deputy,

François Hollande, at a conference for HEIP LYON on March 6, 2025.

Thursday March 6, 2025 was a milestone for HEIP Lyon. On that day, our campus was honored to welcome François Hollande, former President of the French Republic and current Member of Parliament, for an exceptional conference. In front of an attentive and curious audience, he shared his views on current political challenges, the exercise of power and international issues.

An exceptional conference on power and the challenges of the 21st century

As soon as he arrived, the campus was abuzz with excitement. Students and teachers gathered in large numbers, eager to listen to and exchange views with the man who led France from 2012 to 2017.

Under the enlightened moderation of Romain Blachier, Professor of Comparative Political Regimes at HEIP Lyon, the conference quickly turned into a genuine dialogue between François Hollande and the students.

A historical and contemporary look at the exercise of power

Mr. Hollande used the occasion to talk about his latest book, Le défi de gouverner – La Gauche et le pouvoir de l’affaire Dreyfus jusqu’à nos jours (Éditions Perrin), in which he reviews the evolution of political power in France. An ideal introduction to the role of leaders, the complex decisions involved and France’s place in a changing world.

Rich, interactive exchanges with students

What could have been a simple speech turned into a dynamic exchange between Mr. Hollande and the students, structured into several rounds of questions, covering key themes in governance and international relations.

🔹 A first series of questions on domestic policy and the exercise of power

The students began by asking the former President about the governance and political decisions made during his term of office. They wanted to understand:

• The dynamics of the French left: What future for the left in a changing political landscape?
• The key decisions of his five-year term
• Crisis management: How does a head of state make decisions in times of economic or social crisis?
• The President’s role in national unity: How to reconcile popular expectations with the realities of power?

François Hollande shared his experience of power, explaining the complexity of decision-making and the weight of responsibility involved in governing a country.

🔹 France’s place on the international stage: defense, diplomacy and strategic relations

In a second series of exchanges, discussions turned to foreign policy and national defense. The students asked Mr. Hollande about :

• France’s role in international conflicts
• European defense and its partnership with the United States
• Lessons learned from his presidential experience: What has he learned about negotiations and power relations on the international stage?
• Diplomacy as strategic leverage: how to manage relations with the world’s major powers and areas of tension?

The former President gave a precise and nuanced account of the complexity of international relations, stressing the importance of a strong and sovereign Europe in terms of defense.

🔹 poignant questions about the major crises of his tenure

Finally, a third round of discussions focused on some of the most significant moments of his five-year presidency, in particular the terrorist attacks that struck France under his watch.

• The role of French diplomacy in international conflicts and new geopolitical alliances
• The conflict between Ukraine and Russia
• The attacks in France during his term of office: How did he deal with these tragic events? What was his immediate reaction, decision-making and management of communications with the French people?
• His speech on the evening of the attacks: What words to choose in an emergency situation? How does a head of state embody national resilience?

François Hollande gave an emotional behind-the-scenes account of these critical moments, explaining the need for a rapid, thoughtful and united national response to these dramatic circumstances.

François Hollande answered straightforwardly, sharing anecdotes, analyses and valuable insights into his years as head of state.

A landmark event for HEIP Lyon

This conference will remain a highlight of the academic year for our school. It perfectly illustrates HEIP’s mission: to offer its students enriching encounters with major players in politics and international relations, in order to better understand the workings of power and the challenges of tomorrow.

A huge thank you to François Hollande for his intellectual generosity and the richness of his exchanges, and to Romain Blachier for hosting this event.

Relive the entire conference on video now!