I think we convinced people that this was for their own good, and we had a wave of public support

for the measures that we were actually taking.

At the time, people were not aware of the economic pain that this would actually entail.

But we did succeed in crushing the epidemic during its early stages.

Hello and welcome to the G0 World podcast, where you'll find extended versions of

interviews from my show on public television.

I'm Ian Bremmer, and today I sit down with Greek Prime Minister Kariako Smitzutakis,

try saying out a few times.

We'll talk pandemic, Turkish tensions, and why Americans still can't eat suvlaki and Santorini.

Let's get to it.

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Prime Minister of Greece, Kiroakos Mitsutakis, wonderful to be back with you, sir.

Thank you. Pleasure talking to you, as always.

Before the pandemic hit, if you talked about Greece economically,

you'd usually say this was the problem child.

This was the country that for 10 years has gone through the absolute worst, right?

A serious depression that was even greater than the U.S. had a century ago.

And yet today Greece is seen as one of the most effective countries in the world in responding

...