I never thought of politics as a profession.

Many people have been pontificating, and patronizing, and moralizing, and scapegoating, saying you Greeks, you are the problem. I would say we Greeks have a problem. We are not the problem.

The Greek people do not want to exit the euro, and I believe the Greek people already have shown that they have made major sacrifices to stay within the Eurozone.

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

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

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.

We stand united, facing the big responsibility to change our country into a nation of justice, solidarity, humanity and green development.