The PolHiCult student association welcomes François Hollande

On Thursday, 6 November 2025, the Faculty of Law of the Université Catholique de Lille had the honour of welcoming Mr François Hollande, former President of the French Republic, for a major lecture devoted to the evolving role of the President and the contemporary challenges facing French institutions.

The event, which brought together nearly 650 students and was opened by Mr Patrick Scauflaire, President-Rector of the Université Catholique de Lille, and Mrs Sarah Durelle-Marc, Dean of the Faculty of Law, was entirely organised by the Faculty’s student association PolHiCult. A true illustration of our students’ commitment and professionalism, this event highlights the vitality of student life within the University and its contribution to each individual’s intellectual and civic development.

A conversation on institutions and contemporary crises

During the lecture, François Hollande reflected on his experience as former President and offered an in-depth analysis of several major themes:

• The evolution of the role of the President of the Republic in a context of political and social transformation;
• The terrorist attacks of 13 November 2015, whose tenth anniversary will be commemorated tomorrow;
• The state of emergency and the SILT law, and how their extension challenged the principles of the rule of law;
• Diplomatic challenges, including France’s overseas operations in Mali;
• The institutional crisis, illustrated by budgetary tensions and the relationship between the executive and legislative branches.

Through his analysis, François Hollande offered students a concrete insight into the realities of political leadership, echoing the theoretical teaching provided within the Faculty.

Student engagement at the heart of university life

The organisation of this conference by PolHiCult demonstrates the ability of our student associations to design and deliver ambitious projects with rigour and a strong sense of collective purpose. Thanks to their dedication, members of the association enabled all participants (students, administrative staff and academics) to share a privileged moment of exchange around key institutional and democratic issues of our time.

Through this initiative, the Faculty of Law reaffirms its ambition: to educate well-informed jurists, open to the world and aware of the civic responsibilities that come with their profession.