News from the New Party

France decides (part two)

My thoughts therefore go to all of the French who did not vote for me. I want to tell them that beyond the political battle, beyond the differences of opinion, for me there is only one France. I want to tell them that I will be the president of all the French people, that I will speak for each one of them. I want to tell them that this evening it is not the victory of one kind of France against another...

The French people have spoken and have chosen to make a break with the ideas, the customs and the behaviour of the past. I am thus going to restore the status of work, authority, standards, respect, merit. I am going to give the place of honour back to the nation and national identity. I am going to give back to the French people pride in France...

Interviewer: Il y aura des violences si Nicolas Sarkozy est élu ?

Mme Royal: Je le pense. Je le pense. Un candidat qui ne peut pas se rendre dans les quartiers populaires sans susciter des mouvements qui le conduisent et qui le contraignent à être encadré par plusieurs centaines de policiers...je pense, en effet, qu'il y aura des tensions très fortes dans le pays parce qu'il a multiplié les provocations et les violences verbales, en particulier à l'égard des quartiers populaires.

Interviewer: Mais si Nicolas Sarkozy est élu...

Mme Royal: Je crois, en effet, que cette candidature est dangereuse ; et c'est pourquoi je demande aux électeurs de bien réfléchir pendant ces deux derniers jours de campagne.

Interviewer: Si Nicolas Sarkozy est élu, il le sera démocratiquement. Les violences si elles existaient, elles seraient illégitimes ? Nous en sommes d'accord ?

Mme Royal: Mais il faut qu'il se demande pourquoi il en suscite autant. Je crois qu'il en est aussi responsable.


[Translation:
Interviewer: Will there be violence if Nicolas Sarkozy is elected?

Mme Royal: I think so.  I think so.  A candidate who cannot set foot in working class areas without arousing movements which lead him and constrain him to be surrounded by several hundred police officers... I think indeed that there will be very strong tensions in the country because he has made many provocative statements and verbal violence, in particular with regard to the working class areas.

Interviewer: But if Nicolas Sarkozy is elected...

Mme Royal: I believe, actually that this candidature is dangerous; and that is why I ask the electors to reflect well in these final two days of the campaign.

Interviewer: If Nicolas Sarkozy is elected, it will be democratically.  Any violence if it happens, will be illegitimate?  Are we agreed on that?

Mme Royal: But one must ask oneself why he arouses it so much.  I believe he is also responsible for it.]