Francois Hollande Quotes
I don't like indecent, unearned wealth. But it is legitimate for an entrepreneur who has created something to make a good living.
If we don't manage to find not just a compromise but a lasting peace agreement, we know perfectly well what the scenario will be. It has a name, it's called war.
There are tensions abroad where people don't understand our attachment to the freedom of speech, we've seen the protests, and I would say that in France all beliefs are respected.
My real adversary has no name, no face, no party. It will never be elected, yet it governs - the adversary is the world of finance.
The German-French friendship is indispensable for Europe. And I will never let myself be carried away to making statements that would change it.
A large country with such outstanding economic performance as Germany cannot forget that it owes some of its success to demand from other European countries.
To me, it's important to preserve proximity to the people. I wouldn't do anything pretentious, and nothing that hurts the people who voted for me. Triumphalism isn't my thing.
I won't wait until the end of my term to say I made mistakes at the beginning. That's too late. I will try to adopt the proper behaviour, if the French give me the chance, right from the start.
As a president I will be like the candidate that I am, a respectful candidate, a rallying candidate, a normal candidate for a normal presidency, at the service of the Republic.
To be influential in tomorrow's world, to defend our values and our development model, France needs Europe and Europe needs France.
What is at stake is preserving our relations with the United States. They should not be changed because of what has happened. But trust has to be restored and reinforced.
Not in the constitution, but I would propose a law to the French parliament that provides for reducing the budget deficit year by year, until we have reached a balanced budget by 2017.
I attach the greatest importance to an amplification of the peace efforts in the Middle East. I would also like to see a greater dialogue between the U.S. and the EU.
There's always a risk when the candidate becomes president: Will he deliver what is expected of him?
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.
France, after the month of May, will share trust with the current leadership of the United States which, on many subjects, has tended to take useful positions in our view.
Mandela's message will never die. It will continue to inspire freedom fighters and give confidence to people who defend just causes and universal rights.
No one imposes things on anyone in Europe. That's not my notion, nor is it my temperament. The EU has always functioned under the banner of respect, equilibrium and trust.
I'm not a lukewarm European. I know that the German-French friendship is indispensable, no matter who the countries' leaders are.
Germany and France are pinning their hopes on young people, in terms of education, science and innovation.
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.
During a term in office there are highs and lows, but what counts is that the goal is set as well as the means to achieve it, and the force we put into getting results.
Terrorism fuels itself from all kinds of illicit trafficking: drugs, weapons, human beings.
That is now my mission: to provide a European vision of growth, employment, prosperity - in one word, our future.
Is France a northern European export powerhouse, or a Mediterranean indebted and dependent economy? Yes to both.
My mission is to put France back on its feet. The priority is employment. Efforts have to be made, but those efforts must be made fairly.
My obligation, if I become president, is to give another direction to Europe than the one that is being forced upon us today.
The transatlantic relationship is vital for both our countries: France will remain a reliable ally of the United States. Nevertheless, ally does not mean aligned.
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.
I gave myself an objective, to be the second president from Correze and finally to be the successor to Francois Mitterrand.
An education program is, by definition, a societal program. Work should be done at school, rather than at home.
I would like a UK fully engaged in Europe, but I can't decide in place of the British. I see that for the moment they want to be more in retreat.
