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

If we were going to default, we would have decided that many months ago. It would be wrong for the Greek economy, it would be wrong for the European economy, it would make things worse in the end. That's why we're taking the pain and making these structural reforms, and we're on target.

The real problem in Greece is not cutting taxes, it's making sure that we don't have tax evasion.

The structures in Europe in a globalising economy need to be modernised, need to be more integrated, need to be stronger.

I can officially state that my government and myself believe that all over Europe we need to open a debate on the 'drug question' in order to create more coherent and human policies with better perspectives. . . . The policy of criminalizing consumers has failed, creating many problems to our society.

If Greece had gone through a very normal political life, I may have not been in politics. But just the fact that I lived through huge upheavals and very difficult struggles and polarization and the barbarism of dictatorships - that made me feel that we had to change this country.

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