Different Voices

“I don't believe the doomsayers nor opinion polls. Look at Obama – three months ago nobody would have bet on him, now look where he is.”
Walter Veltroni, mayor of Rome and leader of Italy's centre-left, on the chances of prevailing in a likely snap election.

“I welcome these new sources of liquidity and investment. This might make me unpopular with some elements here and in Europe, but I mean what I say.”
Charlie McCreevy, European commissioner for the internal market, speaking on sovereign wealth funds at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.

“More needs to be done...burdens have to be shared more fairly and...there's no room for free-riding in this most important operation that NATO has undertaken.”
Radosław Sikorski, Poland's foreign minister, on the failure of NATO solidarity in Afghanistan.

“Société Générale is a great French bank and will remain a great French bank.”
François Fillon, France's prime minister, on the fate of Société Générale, which has been hit by a trading scandal.