In a freshly published personal account, titled Ithaki, the former prime minister Alexis Tsipras does not hold back as he reflects on the chaotic era of Greece's debt drama.
A Controversial Appointment
In the ex-PM's version, he chose the maverick academic Varoufakis to be his finance minister largely due to the latter's global profile along with his very persuasive skills as a speaker.
“In reality, he was, truthfully, more of a celebrity rather than an economic expert,” wrote the 51-year-old.
Clashing Agendas
The former leader alleges that Varoufakis had a personal motives which included advancing Varoufakis's books as well as testing out his game theories using the nation instead of genuinely fighting for its financial survival.
Tsipras wrote that those talks to prevent bankruptcy were “not only a way to secure a better deal for Greece. They became an experiment, a monumental opportunity to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's ideas.”
Critical Talks
Amid rollercoaster negotiations, Greece found itself perilously on the brink of leaving the single currency area.
On the line was both the country's future but also the punishing cutbacks demanded in exchange for bailout funds from international creditors.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Attempts to find funds from other sources, including an urgent plea to Russia to buy Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.
Helping Greece was tantamount to throwing money into the garbage, the Russian leader is reputed to have told Tsipras in Moscow.
Referendum Followed by U-Turn
In July 2015, those excoriating conditions were put to a public vote, a move that plunged Europe into further crisis of identity.
Even though the referendum was won resoundingly by those who opposed the cuts, Tsipras had little option but to ignore the result and agree to a bailout package with foreign lenders that turned out to be more severe.
Final Straw
The ex-PM claimed that he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.
“He was the face of negotiation, the figure who attracted publicity, who graced the front pages of magazines globally … it seemed he was enjoying his new role.”
When the minister outlined a contingency plan involving creating a secondary currency and distributing coupons to retirees, Tsipras knew that it was the end and asked him: “Can you be serious?”
Lasting Rebuke
In the memoir, Tsipras asserts how Varoufakis demonstrated himself “unsuitable for a deal demanding complex and sensitive handling.”
Tsipras further claimed how his aggressive approach left him increasingly isolated with colleagues, endangered the country, while assisted hardliners who were pushing for Grexit.
This account of events has been met with anger and shock among certain groups, while the former minister has maintained a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
