Nicolas Sarkozy vowed Wednesday to "rally the French" and "break with the past performances" in his first speech as French president at the presidential palace.

"I think deeply about this expectation, this hope, this need to believe in a better future, which were so strongly expressed during the campaign", Sarkozy said.

"I think with solemnity about the mandate the French people have entrusted in me, about this strong sense of responsibility that comes with it, such that I have no right to disappoint them," Sarkozy declared.

"Never has the failure to act been so dangerous for France," he affirmed.

The new French president also enumerated twelve "priorities, " namely, "to rally the French," "to honor promises made," "to respect commitments," "to respect high moral standards," "to restore values of work , effort, merit and respect," "tolerance, unity and transparency," "change," "security and protection," "law and order," "results," "justice," and "break with past habits."

Source: Xinhua