Juncker: Samaras good, Tsipras bad

In this in-depth interview, Mr. Junker talks about the past, the meeting in Cannes and the Greek Referendum. He also talks about his relations with Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras and his opponent in the battle for the position of the European Commission, Alexis Tsipras.

In the question about his relations with Antonis Samaras, he says “I had some difficult relations with Antonis Samaras when he was in the opposition, because I had to ask him again and aagain to support as much as he could the government. Finally, he signed the letter together with Mr. Papandreou, acknowledging the huge reforms that had to take place in Greece. When he became government, he was exemplary in tackling the problems Greece faced. I am happy that he, himself, and his New Democracy party supported my candidacy for the European Commission Presidency […] I don't have to complain about Mr. Samaras. He is a great Greek and a great European”.

As far as whether he is willing to cooperate with his opponent in the candidacy, Alexis Tsipras, he stated: “I am willing to cooperate, but I don't think he is willing to be cooperative with me if he becomes Prime Minister. This a major danger of Greece, because I don't think he understands the problems of the country” and adds that “I don't think he (Tsipras) is the right man for Greece at this very moment”.

In the issue of the discussions that took place in Cannes two years ago, he said that he was always “strongly against Greece exiting the Euro zone”, since such a development would have “dramatic and contagious consequences for the other European countries”