Hollande and Sarkozy lead Victory Day

PARIS, May 8 (UPI) -- Outgoing French President Nicolas Sarkozy invited Francois Hollande, the newly elected president, to lead the Victory Day celebrations in Paris Tuesday.

The holiday, meant to commemorate the 1945 armistice which ended World War II, is usually lead by France's current president. However, for the first time since 1995 when incoming President Jacques Chirac stood alongside outgoing President Francois Mitterand, has such a gesture taken place, Radio France Internationale reported.

Hollande will assume office next week, and will be expected to name his prime minister. On May 16, he is scheduled to hold a key meeting in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, where he is expected to present his economic growth strategy, Euronews.con reported.