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

I could have made a fortune in cheeseburgers, but I finally chose politics.

There's always a risk when the candidate becomes president: Will he deliver what is expected of him?

I know where I'm going and I have told the French. I am sure if hope is there, we will be able to put France back on its feet to live better in five years than we do today.

Nicolas Sarkozy said he could see a wave rising. For once he was right. The wave's coming; it's high, its strong, and it's going to smack him in the face.

An education program is, by definition, a societal program. Work should be done at school, rather than at home.

I think that France has not made it clear enough recently to our German friends how important it is to introduce euro bonds as a tool against speculation. And how the necessary budget discipline needs to be accompanied by growth.