France's Presidential transition begins Sunday at around 10 am (4 a.m. ET) at the 18th century Elysee palace presidential residence with a meeting that will include the exchange of nuclear missile launch codes to 39 year old President-elect Emmanuel Macron.
Current French President Francois Hollande will then unofficially leave office after his 5 year term completes (officially ending at midnight).
France has the 5th largest economy in the world and is a founding member of both the European Union and NATO.
France is also one of five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council with veto power over all sovereign nation conflicts.
The other four are China, Russia, Great Britain and the United States.