My dear citizens, fellow citizens, French people, this 6th of May, have just chosen change by bringing me the presidency of the French republic. I feel the honor, which has been given to me and the task, the important task faced beyond - in front of you to serve my country.

I'm not a lukewarm European. I know that the German-French friendship is indispensable, no matter who the countries' leaders are.

In front of you I commit myself to serve my country with devotion.

The British have been particularly shy about the issues of financial regulation, and attentive only to the interests of the City - hence their reluctance to see the introduction of a tax on financial transactions and tax harmonisation in Europe.

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.

Austerity need not be Europe's fate.

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