Francois Hollande Quotes

My obligation, if I become president, is to give another direction to Europe than the one that is being forced upon us today.

I gave myself an objective, to be the second president from Correze and finally to be the successor to Francois Mitterrand.

If I become president, France will not continue with the same policies as under Nicolas Sarkozy – both in domestic policy and in foreign and European policy.

We are near, very near, to an end to the eurozone crisis… The worst – in the sense of the fear of the eurozone breaking up – is over. But the best isn’t there yet.

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.

No one imposes things on anyone in Europe. That’s not my notion, nor is it my temperament. The EU has always functioned under the banner of respect, equilibrium and trust.

Before you, I engage myself to serve my country with the devotion and the exemplary that this post demands. I understand responsibilities of the job and, as such, I give a republican salute to Nicolas Sarkozy who has led France for 5 years and who deserves all of our respect.

Nothing was given to me, nothing was entrusted to me, nothing was assigned to me. Everything I have, I took by right.

Europe needs an engine, and the Franco-German motor has provided that when the two nations have converged on important topics during critical periods. But that partnership shouldn’t be a directorate for other EU members.

Austerity need not be Europe’s fate.

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.

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.