It is rather unusual for Italy to be at the forefront of pro-market initiatives.

It is very unusual for a country to ask guys who are not politicians to come and run the country.

My aspiration is not to be loved. It is that my government be respected and credible.

There is no government in Europe where ministers go through that kind of confirmation process, which in fact is modeled on the way the U.S. cabinet members are confirmed.

If Spain goes under, Italy will come under even more scrutiny.

Growth in any individual European country has to be the result of policies for growth pursued in that country consistent with budgetary discipline.

Europe has to avoid old prejudices and new ones. That means north versus south, rich versus poor.