France is no longer herself when she is folded in on herself, tormented by ignorance and intolerance. The country would plunge into decline if it refused to be itself, if it was afraid of the future, afraid of the world.
I am attached to the French language. I will defend the ubiquitous use of French.
When I took part in European leaders summits, it was sometimes unpleasant for me to hear Romanian, Polish, Portuguese, and Italian friends speak English, although I admit that on an informal basis, first contacts can be made in this language. Nevertheless, I will defend everywhere the use of the French language.
My dear citizens, fellow citizens, French people, this 6th of May, have just chosen change by bringing me the presidency of the French republic. I feel the honor, which has been given to me and the task, the important task faced beyond - in front of you to serve my country.
I'm going to gather all the French people who want change.
I want the French people to respect values that allow each individual to practice his or her faith, but in the frame of our common rules of secularism.
Though Africa is not responsible for emitting greenhouse gases, it is suffering the consequences of climate change.
I don't like indecent, unearned wealth. But it is legitimate for an entrepreneur who has created something to make a good living.
I want to initiate a change in society in the long term.
France isn't just any country in Europe, and its president is not an ordinary leader in the world. Sometimes directing or leading the way is not enough, he has to initiate policies, as Nicolas Sarkozy was able to demonstrate during his term.
We need the help of other member countries and leaders who, like us, want to see a change in Europe's direction. That's also my logic when I tell voters that electing me president will not only shape France's future, but also initiate change across all of Europe.
If Europe does not advance, it will fall or even be wiped out from the world map... My duty is to bring Europe out of its lethargy.
The migrant question is directly linked to the crisis in Syria and Iraq.
If there is not a united policy, this mechanism will not work: it will collapse, and it will... undoubtedly be the end of Schengen, the return of national borders.
The concept of the terrorists is to plunge our country into division.
Is France a northern European export powerhouse, or a Mediterranean indebted and dependent economy? Yes to both.
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.
The arguments in the Brexit vote and in the American presidential campaign are about the same. In a friendly way, may I also give some advice to the American people to make the right choice when the moment comes.
Calling into question the Touquet deal on the pretext that Britain has voted for Brexit and will have to start negotiations to leave the union doesn't make sense.
Things are going better: there is more growth, less deficit, more competitiveness, better margins for companies, more purchasing power for workers.
