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

In an election, one needs both hope and audacity.

We have chased away the clouds, the sky is all 'rose.'

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

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

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.

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.