But the deficit was only the symptom of much deeper problems that Greece was facing, and I had been elected on a mandate, a mission, actually, to tackle these problems, whether it was lack of transparency and accountability in governance, or whether it was a clientelistic state offering favors to the powerful -- tax avoidance abetted and aided by a global tax evasion system, politics and media captured by special interests.
Deficitul era însă, numai simptomul unor probleme mult mai grave cu care se confrunta Grecia. Eu fusesem ales pe un mandat, cu misiunea de a combate aceste probleme, fie că era vorba de lipsă de transparenţă şi răspundere în guvernare, fie de un stat clientelar, care îi favoriza pe cei puternici- îi scutea de taxe, instigat şi ajutat de un sistem global de evaziune fiscală, politică şi mass-media, preocupate de interese speciale.