Francois Hollande Quotes

An education program is, by definition, a societal program. Work should be done at school, rather than at home.

What the French want is coherence, stability and justice. If I am in a favorable position today, it's because my fellow citizens want to make the effort to straighten out the country, and at the same time they want it to be just and equitable.

It's not for Germany to decide for the rest of Europe.

The migrant question is directly linked to the crisis in Syria and Iraq.

Being in the European Union has its advantages, and I think that is what the British are beginning to understand, what those who are tempted by the Brexit are going to reflect upon.

The Republic will destroy terrorism.

We want the United Kingdom to remain in the European Union.

I think that France has not made it clear enough recently to our German friends how important it is to introduce euro bonds as a tool against speculation. And how the necessary budget discipline needs to be accompanied by growth.

Our common responsibility is to put Europe's interests first.

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.

I don't like indecent, unearned wealth. But it is legitimate for an entrepreneur who has created something to make a good living.

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.

Though Africa is not responsible for emitting greenhouse gases, it is suffering the consequences of climate change.

I have given myself one objective, to be the long-awaited successor to Francois Mitterrand.

I don't want euro bonds that serve to mutualize the entire debt of the countries in the euro zone. That can only work in the longer-term. I want euro bonds to be used to finance targeted investments in future-oriented growth projects. It isn't the same thing. Let's call them 'project bonds' instead of euro bonds.

My goal is to put France back on its feet. I have to put this country back on its feet.

I'm going to gather all the French people who want change.

We must do everything to ensure that the Euro 2016 is a success.

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.

It is intolerable that in our country citizens should feel so upset and under assault because of their religious choice that they would conclude that they have to hide.

I am the president of the youth of France.

I can't separate the fight with terrorism and the fight against global warming. These are two big global challenges we have to face up to because we have to leave our children more than a world free of terror; we also owe them a planet protected from catastrophes.

There's always a risk when the candidate becomes president: Will he deliver what is expected of him?

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

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.

The best thing the Democrats can do is to get Hillary Clinton elected.

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.

I want to initiate a change in society in the long term.

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.

There must be pressure on Moscow so that we have negotiations. Moscow will not succeed by unilaterally backing Bashar al-Assad.

Whoever pays should control; whoever pays should sanction. I agree. But budgetary union should be completed by a partial mutualisation of debts through eurobonds.

France, because it was attacked cowardly, shamelessly, violently, France will be merciless against the barbarians of Daesh.

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 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 am not deaf. I hear the anger. I see the dissatisfaction, and I have to go faster.

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.

Our biggest threat is not too much Europe, but too little.

To resolve the climate crisis, good will, statements of intent are not enough. We are at breaking point.

A country outside the euro zone cannot have a veto over countries in the euro zone.

Nothing was given to me, nothing was entrusted to me, nothing was assigned to me. Everything I have, I took by right.

A jolt is necessary. Europe must reaffirm it values of freedom, solidarity, peace. The EU must be understood and controlled by its citizens. I will do everything to secure profound change rather than decline.

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.

My adversary is the world of finance.

When we live longer, we must work a little bit longer.

Private life is always, at certain times, a challenge.

Doesn't everyone have their hair done?

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.

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.

I could have made a fortune in cheeseburgers, but I finally chose politics.

I do not like the rich.

People need to see signs of equal treatment across society.

The world owes an ecological debt to the African continent.

What is happening in the Sahel for the past several months is that terrorists have structured themselves, have installed themselves. It's not simply a menace for west Africa.

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.

Symbols mean a lot in politics. They indicate a will and create new realities.

Everyone says Francois Mitterrand had huge charisma. But before he was president they used to call him badly dressed, old, archaic and say he knew nothing about the economy ... until the day he was elected. It's called universal suffrage. When you're elected, you become the person that embodies France.

Everyone must be in the same competitive situation, including on the fiscal level.

Europe must be understood and controlled by its citizens.

Be happy, be proud, be generous, be respectful, be proud to be French citizens.

I commit myself to serve my country.

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.

Between France and Senegal there's a history. There's a language that we both speak. There's a culture that we share and to which both of our peoples have contributed. But beyond our history, beyond our language, beyond the links that have united us for so long, what unites us today is the future.

Austerity need not be Europe's fate.

Everyone must understand that you can't demand solidarity when there's a problem and shirk your duties when there are solutions.

There cannot be any concessions on the matter of human rights or the criteria for visa liberalisation.

Transatlantic links are very important.

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.

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.

Sport allows people to come together, but politics divides people.

I ask to be judged on the issue of unemployment.

One thing that makes France different from other countries is the tradition of social solidarity. People from all backgrounds and political positions are willing to contribute for services and protection of society as a whole - but on the condition that money is being spent effectively and that everyone is paying their part.

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.

Is France a northern European export powerhouse, or a Mediterranean indebted and dependent economy? Yes to both.

The extremists wanted to divide France; it came together.

Long live the Republic, and long live France.

We need intelligence services to fight against terrorism, but they have to respect the principles of good relationships between allies and protect personal, confidential data.

When I travel officially ... and when I travel on a private basis, I have protection that is less suffocating. But I am protected everywhere.

It will be very important for us to continue to keep up the necessary pressure, the necessary vigilance, for there to be peace in Ukraine, our trust in the goodwill of President (Vladimir) Putin is limited. It is why we have to maintain our decision about sanctions.

Muslims in France should be able to practice their religion freely and safely.

Make no mistake: we will win, and groups like ISIL will lose.

My policies are producing results and will produce even more.

Faced with terror, France must be strong, it must be great, and the state authorities must be firm.

I have defended the interests of France at the G8 in Washington; afterwards I was at Chicago to announce the withdrawal of French troops from Afghanistan; I have participated in two European summits, so I have fully respected the engagements I made to the French.

Islamist terrorism has declared war against us, against France, Europe, the entire world.

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 concept of the terrorists is to plunge our country into division.

Germany and France are pinning their hopes on young people, in terms of education, science and innovation.

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

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.

My obligation, if I become president, is to give another direction to Europe than the one that is being forced upon us today.

France has been struck on the day of her national holiday - the 14th of July, Bastille Day - the symbol of liberty, because human rights are denied by fanatics, and France is clearly their target.

There cannot be prosperity without security.

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.

If I become president, France will not continue with the same policies as under Nicolas Sarkozy - both in domestic policy and in foreign and European policy.

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.

I'm not a lukewarm European. I know that the German-French friendship is indispensable, no matter who the countries' leaders are.

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.

Mitterrand had a sense for symbols, and he was the first Socialist president since 1958. He wanted to show that there is historical continuity, a connection with the great figures of French history.

To be influential in tomorrow's world, to defend our values and our development model, France needs Europe and Europe needs France.

Our enemy in Syria is Daesh: it's not about containing but destroying this organisation.