Quotes by George Papandreou

About George Papandreou:

Georgios A. Papandreou is a Greek politician who served as Prime Minister of Greece from 2009 to 2011.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

It is important that the Greek people make decisions on important developments.

George Papandreou

I will always be upfront with the Greek people, so we can solve the country's problems together.

George Papandreou

Previous governments, particularly the one before I took over, mismanaged the economy quite badly.

George Papandreou

We had about 60 regions in Greece and now there are only 13. It'd be like cutting down 50 states to 13 and making it more efficient.

George Papandreou

The more there is a European solution to a theoretical, but possible, problem in the markets, the less we will have to talk about an I.M.F. solution.

George Papandreou

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

George Papandreou

We're very proud to be part of the eurozone. But this comes with obligations and it is crucial we show the world we can live up to those obligations.

George Papandreou

Markets are saying pretty much what I'm saying too: that Greece is doing what it can, but that Greece is not going to be able to carry the weight of all of Europe and the other problems that Europe has.

George Papandreou

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

George Papandreou

Markets themselves are looking for stability, and I think we have underestimated the capacity of Europe... to actually create a more stable framework for the whole issue of debt management, bonds, and so on.

George Papandreou

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 str...

George Papandreou

Today I want to send a message of optismism to all Greeks. Our road, our path, will be more stabilised. Our country will be in a better situation. We will be stronger.

George Papandreou

Very often, people will come out and say, 'Greeks aren't doing things, Greeks aren't making changes, there's no reform,' That is hogwash. We have made a huge effort. The Greek people have made a huge effort.

George Papandreou

Unfortunately, corruption is widespread in government agencies and public enterprises. Our political system promotes nepotism and wasting money. This has undermined our legal system and confidence in the functioning of the state. One of the consequen...

George Papandreou

I have been supporting the European Union, but we are still a work in progress. We have to become more of a United States of Europe. We should talk about electing a president of the E.U., rather than having one selected from the heads of government.

George Papandreou

How can a parliamentarian or a leader in a country say, on the one hand, that we're going to support Greece but at the same time say that Greeks are lazy?

George Papandreou

The fact that we're going through a crisis is an opportunity for Europe to be more coordinated and more integrated. We're actually talking about a European Monetary Fund or euro bonds, about guarantees for countries, about economic governance in the ...

George Papandreou

Europe has a lot of strength. We need to pool that strength, and I am very much in favour of that - more of a deeper political union.

George Papandreou

I never thought of politics as a profession.

George Papandreou

In ancient Greece, politics and the market were not decoupled.

George Papandreou

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' ...

George Papandreou

Author Bio

  • NameGeorge Papandreou
  • DescriptionGreek politician
  • BornJune 16, 1952
  • CountryGreece
  • ProfessionPolitician; Diplomat; Sociologist
  • AwardsGrand Cross Of The Order Of The Crown; Grand Cross Of The Order Of Isabella The Catholic