Francois Hollande

Everyone says Francois Mitterrand had huge charisma. But before he was president they used to call him badly dressed, old, archaic and say he knew nothing about the economy... until the day he was elected. It's called universal suffrage. When you're elected, you become the person that embodies France. ”

Is France a northern European export powerhouse, or a Mediterranean indebted and dependent economy? Yes to both. ”

France is no longer herself when she is folded in on herself, tormented by ignorance and intolerance. The country would plunge into decline if it refused to be itself, if it was afraid of the future, afraid of the world. ”

Between France and Senegal there's a history. There's a language that we both speak. There's a culture that we share and to which both of our peoples have contributed. But beyond our history, beyond our language, beyond the links that have united us for so long, what unites us today is the future. ”

Our common responsibility is to put Europe's interests first. ”

To resolve the climate crisis, good will, statements of intent are not enough. We are at breaking point. ”

France is the bridge between northern Europe and southern Europe. I refuse any division. If Europe has been reunified, it's not for it to then fall into egotism or 'each for one's own'. Our duty is to set common rules around the principles of responsibility and solidarity. ”

I think that France has not made it clear enough recently to our German friends how important it is to introduce euro bonds as a tool against speculation. And how the necessary budget discipline needs to be accompanied by growth. ”

Things are going better: there is more growth, less deficit, more competitiveness, better margins for companies, more purchasing power for workers. ”

China... has the capacity to ensure its stability and growth. ”