Within his freshly published autobiography, titled Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Alexis Tsipras does not hold back as he revisits the turbulent period during Greece's economic turmoil.
A Controversial Appointment
As per Tsipras's version, he appointed the maverick academic Yanis Varoufakis as the finance minister primarily because of his international reputation along with Varoufakis's very persuasive abilities as a speaker.
“He was, actually, more like a star rather than an economic expert,” recalled the 51-year-old.
Conflicting Agendas
The former leader suggests that Varoufakis possessed his own agenda that involved promoting Varoufakis's books and experimenting with his own game theories using the nation rather than genuinely fighting for the country's economic stability.
Tsipras noted how those negotiations to prevent bankruptcy were “not just a method of achieving a better deal for the country. They became a test, a monumental opportunity to demonstrate the validity of his ideas.”
High-Stakes Talks
Amid rollercoaster negotiations, Greece found itself perilously on the brink of leaving the eurozone.
On the line lay both the country's future but also the severe austerity policies required in exchange for bailout funds from foreign lenders.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Attempts to find funds elsewhere, including a desperate appeal to Russia to purchase Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.
Helping Greece was tantamount to throwing money into the garbage, Putin reportedly told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.
Public Vote and U-Turn
That summer, those punitive bailout terms were subjected to a popular referendum, a move which plunged Europe into deeper existential crisis.
Even though the vote was won decisively by voters against the cuts, the prime minister had little option to ignore the result and negotiate a rescue deal with foreign lenders which turned out to be even harsher.
Final Straw
Tsipras claimed that he started questioning Varoufakis quite early on.
“Varoufakis was the public image of the talks, the figure who drew media attention, who graced the front pages of magazines globally … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”
When the minister proposed a contingency plan that included creating a secondary currency and issuing coupons to retirees, Tsipras said he realised it was the end questioning Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”
Enduring Rebuke
Within the memoir, the author asserts that Varoufakis had proved himself to be “unfit for an agreement that required complex and sensitive handling.”
Tsipras further claimed how his confrontational style made him increasingly isolated with colleagues, endangered the country, while helped hardliners who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.
The account of events has been met with fury along with shock in some quarters, whereas the former minister has kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.
