Francois Hollande

I am for a clear distinction between public and private life. I believe private matters should be regulated in private and I have asked those close to me to respect this. ”

I would like a UK fully engaged in Europe, but I can't decide in place of the British. I see that for the moment they want to be more in retreat. ”

I have defended the interests of France at the G8 in Washington; afterwards I was at Chicago to announce the withdrawal of French troops from Afghanistan; I have participated in two European summits, so I have fully respected the engagements I made to the French. ”

Faced with terror, France must be strong, it must be great, and the state authorities must be firm. ”

That is now my mission: to provide a European vision of growth, employment, prosperity - in one word, our future. ”

France isn't just any country in Europe, and its president is not an ordinary leader in the world. Sometimes directing or leading the way is not enough, he has to initiate policies, as Nicolas Sarkozy was able to demonstrate during his term. ”

Whatever happened during the French presidential campaign will leave no hard feelings. I perfectly understand why Angela Merkel supported Nicolas Sarkozy because of the action they have taken together, even though I have questioned its results, and because of their shared political sensibility. ”

To be influential in tomorrow's world, to defend our values and our development model, France needs Europe and Europe needs France. ”

The world owes an ecological debt to the African continent. ”

I attach the greatest importance to an amplification of the peace efforts in the Middle East. I would also like to see a greater dialogue between the U.S. and the EU. ”