Antonis Samaras
Antonis Samaras
Antonis Samarasis a Greek politician who was Prime Minister of Greece from 2012 to 2015 and leader of New Democracy from 2009 to 2015. Samaras previously served as Minister of Finance in 1989, as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1989 to 1992, and as Minister of Culture and Sport in 2009...
NationalityGreek
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth23 May 1951
CityAthens, Greece
mistake government serious
Very serious mistakes were made by previous governments, and Greece was ready to be abandoned by its partners and to leave the eurozone, which would have created total catastrophe.
government order needs
During the socialist period, the government became too big. That created a crowding-out effect in the private economy, and it gave everybody the need to pay more taxes in order to finance this big government. We are against big government. We want a smaller and more efficient government.
want negative paradigm
I do not want Greece to become the negative paradigm for the others - i.e., "make sure you follow exactly what we tell you, otherwise you will be like Greece."
believe greek exit
We believe that what they call "Grexit" [a Greek exit from the eurozone] is not an option for us.
cutting mps president
We have decreased the salaries of everybody who partakes in politics, from the president to the prime minister to the MPs [members of Parliament]. We have cut expenditures that have to do with parliament. Everybody knows we are serious.
years ideas would-be
I have always believed that this idea of having a nation go through this very painful five or six years of continuous recession with high unemployment would be detrimental for the economy and the society.
cutting light tunnels
There are going to be a lot of problems with social cohesion. We are already cutting down everything to the bone. Unless there is light at the end of the tunnel.
rocks unions boat
We are a pivotal part of the European Union. Any destabilization of Greece would totally rock the boat.
steps problem illegal
Illegal immigrants are already a very big problem for us. We are already taking big steps to disallow illegal immigrants from coming in.
country opportunity land
There are many people abroad who want to help, who want to invest. We will give them the red-carpet treatment. We want them to realize that this is a land of opportunity. It always has been so, but we never allowed foreign investment to come into this country.
psychology culture break
It was a culture that business is something bad - it was a leftist-oriented psychology. We have to break this. We are pro-business.
blood mouths foreigners
We shed blood to take the word `Grexit' away from the mouth of foreigners, and Syriza is bringing this word back to their mouths,
land new-day today
Today is a new day for the land.
country party third-parties
I cannot allow a third party to decide on my country's future.