There is this concept of politics as a dirty game. It's a difficult game, but it doesn't have to be dirty. I think this is what we need to bring to politics. I think politics around the world has very often been captured by big interests - 'lobbies' they call them in the States.

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

I have always said I will be in politics to serve as best as I can and it will take me wherever it will take me.

Everyone needs to carry out his own personal revolution.

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

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.

If you put all the European countries together, we are the biggest economy in the world.