In a newly released personal account, called Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Tsipras spares no criticism while he examines the chaotic period during Greece's financial crisis.
An Unconventional Appointment
In Tsipras's recollections, he chose the unorthodox academic Varoufakis as his treasury head primarily because of the latter's worldwide fame along with his highly compelling skills when it came to public orator.
“He was, actually, more like a celebrity and less of an economic expert,” stated Tsipras.
Clashing Agendas
Tsipras claims that Varoufakis had a personal motives which involved promoting Varoufakis's publications as well as experimenting with his economic models using the nation rather than truly fighting for the country's financial survival.
Tsipras noted that those discussions to stave off insolvency were “not just a method to secure a better deal for the country. They became an experiment, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the truth of his theories.”
Critical Negotiations
Amid tense negotiations, Greece found itself dangerously close to leaving the eurozone.
At stake was not only the country's future but also those harsh austerity measures required in exchange for rescue loans from international creditors.
Failed Options
Attempts to find funds elsewhere, such as a desperate plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.
Assisting Greece was equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have informed Tsipras in Moscow.
Public Vote Followed by U-Turn
In July 2015, those punitive conditions were subjected to a public vote, an action that threw Europe into deeper crisis of identity.
Even though the vote was won resoundingly by voters who opposed austerity, Tsipras had little option to reject its outcome then agree to a bailout package from foreign lenders that proved to be more severe.
Breaking Point
The ex-PM revealed that he started questioning Varoufakis quite early on.
“He was the public image of the talks, the figure who attracted media attention, who appeared on the covers of publications the world over … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”
After the minister proposed a backup strategy that included creating a secondary currency and distributing coupons to pensioners, Tsipras knew it was game over and asked him: “Can you be serious?”
Enduring Rebuke
Within the memoir, the author concludes how Varoufakis had proved himself “unfit for a deal that required complex and delicate handling.”
He also claimed how his aggressive style made him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, and assisted hawks that were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.
The account of history has provoked anger and stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas the former minister has kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
