I perfectly understood President Obama’s attitude throughout the French presidential campaign. He had no reason to distance himself from Nicolas Sarkozy. It’s the basic solidarity that leaders who worked together owe to each other.
I want the French people to respect values that allow each individual to practice his or her faith, but in the frame of our common rules of secularism.
The British people have decided to leave. It is a sad decision but one which I respect. The vote puts the European Union in difficulties. It must recognise its shortfalls.
Each country has a soul, and France’s soul is equality.
We need intelligence services to fight against terrorism, but they have to respect the principles of good relationships between allies and protect personal, confidential data.
I won’t wait until the end of my term to say I made mistakes at the beginning. That’s too late. I will try to adopt the proper behaviour, if the French give me the chance, right from the start.
France, after the month of May, will share trust with the current leadership of the United States which, on many subjects, has tended to take useful positions in our view.
My real adversary has no name, no face, no party. It will never be elected, yet it governs – the adversary is the world of finance.
When I travel officially… and when I travel on a private basis, I have protection that is less suffocating. But I am protected everywhere.
We are a big country, with lots of advantages and history. We are proud to be French. We have to call on patriotism at this time… to ask for an effort in the battle against debt.
I could have made a fortune in cheeseburgers, but I finally chose politics.
I am not deaf. I hear the anger. I see the dissatisfaction, and I have to go faster.