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.

Symbols mean a lot in politics. They indicate a will and create new realities.

I'm going to gather all the French people who want change.

Mitterrand had a sense for symbols, and he was the first Socialist president since 1958. He wanted to show that there is historical continuity, a connection with the great figures of French history.

I am for a clear distinction between public and private life. I believe private matters should be regulated in private and I have asked those close to me to respect this.

My goal is to put France back on its feet. I have to put this country back on its feet.

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