Within his newly released memoir, named Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras spares no criticism as he examines that chaotic era during Greece's economic turmoil.
An Unconventional Appointment
According to Tsipras's version, he selected the unorthodox academic Varoufakis as the finance minister primarily due to his worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's very persuasive abilities as a communicator.
“In reality, he was, truthfully, more like a personality rather than an economic expert,” recalled Tsipras.
Clashing Agendas
The former leader suggests how his finance chief had a personal agenda that involved promoting his books and testing out his theories using Greece rather than truly fighting for the country's financial survival.
Tsipras explained that those negotiations to prevent bankruptcy became “not only a way to secure a better deal for Greece. They became an experiment, an historic chance to demonstrate the validity of his ideas.”
Critical Negotiations
Amid volatile discussions, Greece found itself perilously on the brink of leaving the eurozone.
On the line was not only Greece's destiny and those punishing austerity policies required in exchange for bailout funds by foreign lenders.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Efforts to find funds elsewhere, including a desperate appeal to the Kremlin to buy Greek bonds, were rejected.
Assisting the indebted country was tantamount to throwing money in the trash-can, Putin reportedly informed his Greek counterpart during their meeting.
Referendum Followed by Reversal
That summer, the excoriating conditions were subjected to a popular referendum, a move which threw the EU into a deeper existential crisis.
Although the referendum was won resoundingly by those who opposed austerity, the prime minister had little option to ignore the result then negotiate a bailout package from foreign lenders which proved to be tougher.
Breaking Point
The ex-PM revealed that he started questioning his finance minister relatively soon.
“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the figure who drew media attention, who graced the front pages of publications the world over … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”
When the minister proposed a contingency plan that included creating a secondary currency as well as issuing coupons to retirees, the leader knew that it was game over and asked Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”
Enduring Criticism
Within the memoir, the author concludes how Varoufakis had proved himself “unfit for an agreement that required complex and sensitive handling.”
Tsipras also claimed that his confrontational style left him more and more alone with colleagues, endangered the country, while assisted hardliners that were advocating Grexit.
This retelling of events has provoked anger along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas Varoufakis has so far maintained a deafening silence on the matter.
