Very often, people will come out and say, 'Greeks aren't doing things, Greeks aren't making changes, there's no reform,' That is hogwash. We have made a huge effort. The Greek people have made a huge effort.

You can theorise about the options you have but in reality they are very specific.

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.

Politics also means educating people. It's important to speak openly with our fellow Greeks, to tell them what our problems are and that we have to change something.

Everyone needs to carry out his own personal revolution.

There is this concept of politics as a dirty game.

Despite the deep reforms we are making, traders and speculators have forced interest rates on Greek bonds to record highs.