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

As to the question of elected or not elected, each member of the European Commission has been appointed jointly by the governments of the 15 member states, and undergone individual scrutiny and a vote of confidence from the European Parliament.

If governments let themselves be fully bound by the decisions of their parliaments without protecting their own freedom to act, a breakup of Europe would be a more probable outcome than deeper integration.

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

The Italian economy has been held back for decades.

There was in Italy a hidden demand for a boring government which would try to tell the truth in non-political jargon.

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