People would say you look weak if you're not cursing the opposition and driving around in a big black car while always wearing a tie. Above all, to be 'strong' you're always supposed to be giving orders.

The Marshall Plan was after destruction, and the U.S. came to our help and obviously this was very, very important for the future of Europe. I think now we have all the capabilities of doing it on our own and, in a sense, we have to.

Greece's history in the drachma was an up-and-down history, a roller coaster.

I would like to see Greece as a case study, an opportunity for Europe to strengthen its coordination of fiscal policy.

I think there is a heritage which I’m proud of, which is a fight for democracy, a fight for social justice, a fight for freedom. My grandfather went to jail or exile six times in his life, fighting for his principles for democracy, or for his country. And my father twice.

When I was growing up in the United States and Sweden, I never thought about becoming a politician.

Unfortunately, corruption is widespread in government agencies and public enterprises.