clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

French president to a grieving nation: “We will lead the fight, and it will be merciless”

Libby Nelson is Vox's policy editor, leading coverage of how government action and inaction shape American life. Libby has more than a decade of policy journalism experience, including at Inside Higher Ed and Politico. She joined Vox in 2014.

French President François Hollande, in a brief speech near the Bataclan nightclub attacked Friday night, swore to take revenge on those who perpetrated what he termed a "barbaric act."

"We wanted to be here, among all those who saw these atrocious things, to say that we will lead the fight, and it will be merciless," he said.

"When terrorists are capable of committing such atrocities, they should be certain that they are facing a determined France, a united France … a France that will not let itself be intimidated, even if today we are expressing endless emotion at this drama and this tragedy," Hollande said. "This was an abomination because it was a barbaric act."

Here are the full remarks, without translation. Even if you don't speak French, the emotion in Hollande's voice is clear: