The German-French friendship is indispensable for Europe. And I will never let myself be carried away to making statements that would change it.

Terrorism fuels itself from all kinds of illicit trafficking: drugs, weapons, human beings.

I want to initiate a change in society in the long term.

I don't like indecent, unearned wealth. But it is legitimate for an entrepreneur who has created something to make a good living.

We find ourselves in a difficult situation in Europe. There's a crisis, weak growth, unemployment... my duty is to ensure that by the end of my mandate France is in a better state than it was at the beginning.

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.

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.