I entered politics from a completely different background from other people in this field, and that has helped me to see and deal with things differently.

When people say all politicians are the same, ask yourself if Obama was the same as Bush, if Francois Hollande is the same as Sarkozy. They are not. They are human beings with different views and different visions for the world.

I still paint. I love the joy that color can give to our lives and to our communities. I try to bring something of the artist in me to my politics.

I'm not sure I am a politician. I would say that I am still an artist, and I'm trying to use politics as an instrument for change.

Politics has come to resemble a cynical team game played by politicians, while the public has been pushed aside as if sitting on the seats of a stadium in which passion for politics is gradually making room for blindness and desperation.

Things can change only through strong personalities. I am not very good at supporting ignorance and mediocrity, so maybe this leads to arrogant gestures and arrogant responses. So, nobody's perfect.