In an interview with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, former Prime Minister George Papandreou defended his government's work when he was asked how difficult it was for him to resign. He blamed the New Democracy government that preceded him for mismanagement for the outbreak of the financial crisis, as well as the European Union's architecture, calling it “not a complete union”.
He told reporter Patricia Sheridan that he feels lucky to have served his country, to which he says he is committed, but from a new position, that of the “citizen of the world”. Finally, he said that he had decided to go back to Greece because it was a country with much potential to change. “This is where my efforts would have more impact”, he added.
Mr Papandreou gave the interview while attending the Pittsburgh Speakers Series, presented by Robert Morris University, where he was invited to speak. He was critical of such fora for lacking cooperation and political will.
Mr Papandreou resigned from his position as PM in November 2011 under pressure from both the EU and members of his party, followed by a unity government led by technocrats. In the June 2012 elections, he was reelected MP as his party, PASOK, had placed him on top of its ballot's list in the corresponding constituency and it narrowly made the votes it needed there. He was also reelected President of Socialist international in August 2012.
In the fall of 2012, Mr Papandreou became a visiting fellow at Harvard University. Since then he has been travelling a lot, giving speeches on economics and politics in several venues. Critics in Greece point out that as a result, he is hardly ever present in the Greek parliament, even though he still holds his position and is receiving parliamentary salary and benefits.
Read the whole interview at: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette