Within his newly released memoir, called Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Tsipras does not hold back as he examines the turbulent period of Greece's debt drama.
A Controversial Appointment
According to the ex-PM's account, he selected that unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis as the finance minister largely due to his global profile along with Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” abilities when it came to speaker.
“He was, actually, more like a star and less of an economist,” stated the 51-year-old.
Clashing Agendas
Tsipras alleges how Varoufakis had a personal agenda which included promoting Varoufakis's publications and testing out his own game theories on the nation rather than genuinely fighting for its economic stability.
He noted how the negotiations to stave off bankruptcy became “not just a way of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were an experiment, a monumental chance to prove the truth of Varoufakis's ideas.”
Critical Negotiations
Amid tense negotiations, Greece found itself perilously on the brink of leaving the single currency area.
At stake was not only Greece's destiny but also the harsh austerity policies demanded in return for rescue loans by international creditors.
Failed Alternatives
Attempts to secure financing elsewhere, such as an urgent plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.
Helping the indebted country would be equivalent to throwing money into the garbage, the Russian leader is reputed to have told Tsipras during their meeting.
Public Vote and U-Turn
That summer, those punitive conditions were put to a public vote, a move that plunged Europe into a deeper existential crisis.
Although the vote was carried resoundingly by voters who opposed the cuts, Tsipras was forced but to reject its outcome and negotiate a rescue deal from foreign lenders that proved to be more severe.
Final Straw
The ex-PM claimed how he started questioning Varoufakis relatively soon.
“He was the public image of negotiation, the figure who attracted media attention, who appeared on the front pages of publications globally … he gave the impression he relished his new role.”
When the minister outlined a backup strategy that included creating a parallel currency and issuing coupons to pensioners, Tsipras knew that it was the end and asked Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”
Lasting Rebuke
Within the book, Tsipras concludes that his former ally had proved himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement demanding intricate and delicate handling.”
Tsipras also claimed how Varoufakis's confrontational approach left him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, while helped hawks that were pushing for Grexit.
This retelling of history has been met with fury along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas Varoufakis has kept a deafening silence on the matter.
