Within his newly released personal account, named Ithaki, the ex- premier Tsipras does not hold back while he revisits that chaotic period during Greece's debt drama.
A Controversial Choice
As per Tsipras's recollections, he selected that unorthodox economist Yanis Varoufakis as his finance minister mainly because of his international reputation and Varoufakis's very persuasive skills as a speaker.
“In reality, he was, actually, more like a personality rather than an economic expert,” recalled the 51-year-old.
Clashing Agendas
The former leader claims that his finance chief had his own agenda that included advancing Varoufakis's publications and experimenting with his game theories using the nation rather than genuinely fighting for its economic stability.
Tsipras noted that the negotiations to stave off bankruptcy were “not only a method of achieving a better deal for the country. They were a test, an historic chance to demonstrate the validity of his theories.”
High-Stakes Negotiations
Amid tense negotiations, Greece came perilously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.
At stake lay both Greece's future but also the punishing austerity measures required in exchange for financial aid from international creditors.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Attempts to secure funds from other sources, such as an urgent plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, were rejected.
Helping the indebted country was equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin reportedly informed his Greek counterpart during their meeting.
Public Vote and Reversal
That summer, those harsh conditions were subjected to a public vote, an action that threw Europe into a further crisis of identity.
Even though the vote was carried resoundingly by voters who opposed the cuts, the prime minister had little option but to ignore the result then agree to a bailout package from creditors which turned out to be tougher.
Final Straw
The ex-PM claimed how he began to doubt his finance minister quite early on.
“Varoufakis was the public image of the talks, the figure who drew publicity, who appeared on the covers of magazines globally … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”
After Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan that included creating a secondary currency as well as issuing vouchers to pensioners, Tsipras said he realised that it was the end questioning him: “Is this for real?”
Enduring Criticism
Within the memoir, the author concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement that required intricate and delicate handling.”
Tsipras further wrote how Varoufakis's aggressive approach made him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while assisted hawks that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
This retelling of history has been met with fury and stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas the former minister has so far maintained a conspicuous quiet on the matter.
