Each country has a soul, and France's soul is equality.

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.

I gave myself an objective, to be the second president from Correze and finally to be the successor to Francois Mitterrand.

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.

We are a big country, with lots of advantages and history. We are proud to be French. We have to call on patriotism at this time... to ask for an effort in the battle against debt.

I perfectly understood President Obama's attitude throughout the French presidential campaign. He had no reason to distance himself from Nicolas Sarkozy. It's the basic solidarity that leaders who worked together owe to each other.