François Hollande

Europe is not a cash box, let alone a cashpoint.

Britain is more protected because of speculation the central bank may intervene directly to finance the debt.

The first time that I went to the United States was in 1974 ... what impresses me most in this large nation is its capacity to overcome hardship and return to the heights.

François Gérard Georges Nicolas Hollande (French pronunciation: ​[fʁɑ̃swa ɔlɑ̃d]; born 12 August 1954) is a French politician who served as President of France from 2012 to 2017. He previously was First Secretary of the Socialist Party from 1997 to 2008, Mayor of Tulle from 2001 to 2008 and President of the General Council of Corrèze from 2008 to 2012. Hollande also served in the National Assembly twice for the first constituency of Corrèze from 1988 to 1993 and again from 1997 until 2012.

Quotes

• In addition to relative indifference to the fate of the euro area, Britain is more protected because of speculation the central bank may intervene directly to finance the debt ... Europe is not a cash box, let alone a cashpoint.
  • As quoted in "New French leader fires a broadside at Britain: You only care about the City of London, says President Hollande" (8 May 2012), Daily Mail.

• 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.
  • As quoted in "New French leader fires a broadside at Britain: You only care about the City of London, says President Hollande" (8 May 2012), Daily Mail.

• 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.
  • As quoted in "Exclusive: President François Hollande Talks Syria, Spies and Secrets With TIME" (5 February 2014), by Catherine Mayer, Time.

• The first time that I went to the United States was in 1974 ... I was 20 years old. America was in crisis. The dollar was at a low. The Watergate scandal had already erupted. And I still remember this vision I had of New York, which was a huge, fascinating city, dirty and violent. And I’ve been to the U.S. regularly, but what impresses me most in this large nation is its capacity to overcome hardship and return to the heights.
  • As quoted in "Exclusive: President François Hollande Talks Syria, Spies and Secrets With TIME" (5 February 2014), by Catherine Mayer, Time.