Francois Hollande
Francois Hollande
François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande; born 12 August 1954) is the President of the French Republic and Co-Prince of Andorra, having been elected to the position in 2012. Hollande was previously the First Secretary of the French Socialist Party from 1997 to 2008, the mayor of Tulle from 2001 to 2008, and the President of the Corrèze General Council from 2008 to 2012. Hollande also served in the National Assembly of France twice for the department of Corrèze's 1st Constituency...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth12 August 1954
CityRouen, France
CountryFrance
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.
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.
We find ourselves in a difficult situation in Europe. There's a crisis, weak growth, unemployment... my duty is to ensure that by the end of my mandate France is in a better state than it was at the beginning.
My obligation, if I become president, is to give another direction to Europe than the one that is being forced upon us today.
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.
To be influential in tomorrow's world, to defend our values and our development model, France needs Europe and Europe needs France.
Europe needs an engine, and the Franco-German motor has provided that when the two nations have converged on important topics during critical periods. But that partnership shouldn't be a directorate for other EU members.
France is the bridge between northern Europe and southern Europe. I refuse any division. If Europe has been reunified, it's not for it to then fall into egotism or 'each for one's own'. Our duty is to set common rules around the principles of responsibility and solidarity.
The British have been particularly shy about the issues of financial regulation, and attentive only to the interests of the City - hence their reluctance to see the introduction of a tax on financial transactions and tax harmonisation in Europe.
The German-French friendship is indispensable for Europe. And I will never let myself be carried away to making statements that would change it.
Austerity need not be Europe's fate.
We must rally together in front of voters,
It allowed nationalists ... to transform the SNCM problem into a Corsican problem.
From now on, the response cannot be found in a government reshuffle, whatever its scope, but in a major change in the direction of the government.