Before you I engage myself to serve my country with the devotion and the exemplary that this post demands. I understand responsibilities of the job and as such I give a republican salute to Nicolas Sarkozy who has led France for 5 years and who deserves all of our respect.

I perfectly understood President Obama's attitude throughout the French presidential campaign. He had no reason to distance himself from Nicolas Sarkozy. It's the basic solidarity that leaders who worked together owe to each other.