My presidential victory, if it had happened, would have been artificial in relation to the Socialist party. It may be that on my deathbed, I will come to regret my decision, but for the moment, I live at peace with it.

The driving force behind the liberal counter-offensive in Europe has been a reaction against irresponsibility.

These days there are not enough of such intermediary groups, between the state and the individual, with the result that political leaders are often unduly guided by opinion polls.

Cinema explains American society. It's like a Western, with good guys and bad guys, where the weak don't have a place.

Therefore one should speak at the same time of national citizenship and wider European citizenship.

The unions still have a job to do, representing their members' interests to governments and parliaments. And I think collective agreements still have a role, alongside markets and laws.

This desire for equity must not lead to an excess of welfare, where nobody is responsible for anything.