Monti: Anticipate huge problems for Tsipras

DW: You have said that you used to have sleepless nights over the financial situation in Italy. Is what we're seeing in Greece now the nightmare you were trying to avoid?

Mario Monti: Yes. I believe that Italians, now that they see daily the developments in Greece, are in a better position to understand what they have collectively been able to avoid. The Italian situation was not as bad, of course, but given the size of the country, if Italy had a real serious problem, I wonder whether the eurozone would still be here. But luckily, that is over.

The International Monetary Fund has said it wants to see restructuring of debt, including debt relief, to stay on board for the next rescue package. Germany has ruled out debt relief. Do you think there will be debt relief for Greece?

That is not to be excluded, but remember that it was Germany which has insisted for the IMF to be there in all these cases of bailout assistance to countries. Maybe Europe would have a freer hand if the IMF was not there, but it was a German demand and it is there.

What do you believe to be the political fallout from the agreement that we have now?

Huge problems for [Prime Minister Alexis] Tsipras in Greece. I personally hope that he is able to continue as prime minister, maybe in a politically different coalition, but I think it would be bad if the Greek and world public opinion had the impression that the crisis precipitated the change in government in Greece again. But, of course, he has to be extremely strong in his determination to pick the right ministers. Even in Syriza, I'm sure there are reform-minded ministers who really wish to work for reforms - albeit in a perspective that would be more leftist, than center or rightist, but these are the political choices of the country. We all have an interest in Greece coming close to a real solution of its problems.

This was also described as a crisis of trust. How much trust do you have in Greece implementing the reforms it has agreed to?

It was exactly a crisis of trust. It must be said that Mr. Tsipras - I believe, involuntarily, really destroyed the capital of sympathy and trust that he had on the day of elections. He made the appeal to a use of direct democracy - a referendum - except he did not follow the outcome of the referendum. I'm afraid he went both against the national interest of Greece and against the popular mandate that he got in the referendum. Not the ideal situation in which to find oneself. I think he will be able to learn the lessons of this political incident. To me, the real strong point is that the Greek population does want - according to all the polls 70 or 80 percent - to stay in the euro. Which is not the case, by the way, in other countries such as Italy, France or Spain.

Do you believe that the eurozone and the European Union will come out of this stronger or weaker?

They will come out of this weakened, unless now there are stronger political actions. I believe in light of these developments, it is unrealistic for us to wait for 2017. We know that is a magic year because there are elections in Germany and France. But I think that Europe - being in almost a state of war including within Europe, between some of its citizens and the idea of the European construction - can no longer afford the propensity of national leaders not to be disturbed when they seek re-election. I think even for the survival of our member states, it is imperative that for a number of years, the interest of the EU be put well above the respectable but minor interests of a chancellor or a president to be re-elected.

Mario Monti served as Italian prime minister from November 2011 to April 2013. He led a technocrat government that dealt with the country's debt crisis. He also served on the European Commission from 1995 to 2004.