Greece’s caretaker prime minister has insisted that a “large, silent majority” is willing to do whatever necessary to remain within the eurozone, in spite of near-daily anti-austerity demonstrations by protesters hit by deep salary and pension cuts.

Lucas Papademos said Greece was determined to avoid another debt restructuring and its political leaders were prepared to put aside past differences to implement crucial structural and fiscal reforms.

In an interview with the Financial Times, Mr Papademos expressed confidence that Greece’s downward economic spiral would prove temporary, forecasting a resumption of desperately needed growth. “I am convinced that we are more than halfway along the path to economic recovery – although the fiscal consolidation process will last longer. Positive growth rates should be achieved within less than two years,” he said.