A large country with such outstanding economic performance as Germany cannot forget that it owes some of its success to demand from other European countries.

What is at stake is preserving our relations with the United States. They should not be changed because of what has happened. But trust has to be restored and reinforced.

Austerity need not be Europe's fate.

That is now my mission: to provide a European vision of growth, employment, prosperity - in one word, our future.

A large country with such outstanding economic performance as Germany cannot forget that it owes some of its success to demand from other European countries.

In an election, one needs both hope and audacity.

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