Giorgio Napolitano

“This unprecedented crisis, which is without doubt the worst since the second world war, is not over.”

“It's not just we Italians who are caught up in the difficulty.”

“The country will also need 'new forms of social welfare' instead of its current system which is excessively centred on pensions.”

“We must resist the temptation of once again turning America into the traditional bogeyman of the left.”

“The institutions of the European Union, and the states that belong to this union, each and every one, are paying the price of our failures, hesitations and contradictions. We should each ask ourselves how personally responsible we are.”

“Now is the time to show maximum responsibility. It is not the time to pay off old scores nor for sterile partisan recriminations. It is time to re-establish a climate of calmness and mutual respect.”

“It takes a lot of effort to win back credibility after having lost it so heavily.”

“The principal of unity and indivisibility of the republic are the essential reference points.”

“We have to continue our efforts with determination.”

“If the constitutional process is not brought to a successful conclusion before the European elections, then the whole process might run out of steam.”

“We owe it to our children to give them a dignified and hopeful future.”

“No one, no social group, can today avoid the commitment to contribute to the clean up of public finances in order to prevent the financial collapse of Italy. The sacrifices will not be in vain, especially if the economy begins to grow again.”

“No part of Italian society should see itself as exempt from the effort to save Italy from collapse.”

“It is a responsibility we perceive from the entire international community to protect the stability of the single currency as well as the European frame work.”

“Speaking from my experience as a person involved for a long time in building the European Union, it is important to have patience and efforts to build a community of nations.”