Within his freshly published autobiography, called Ithaki, the former prime minister Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism as he reflects on the turbulent era of Greece's financial crisis.
A Controversial Choice
According to the ex-PM's version, he appointed that unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister largely due to his international reputation and Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” abilities when it came to communicator.
“He was, actually, more like a celebrity rather than an economist,” recalled Tsipras.
Conflicting Priorities
Tsipras alleges that Varoufakis possessed a personal motives that involved advancing Varoufakis's publications and testing out his game theories using Greece instead of truly fighting for its financial survival.
He noted that those discussions to avoid bankruptcy became “not only a way to secure a better deal for Greece. They were an experiment, a monumental opportunity to prove the truth of his economic theories.”
High-Stakes Negotiations
Amid rollercoaster discussions, Greece found itself perilously on the brink of exiting the single currency area.
On the line was not only Greece's future but also the severe cutbacks demanded in exchange for financial aid from international creditors.
Unsuccessful Options
Efforts to secure funds elsewhere, including a desperate appeal to Russia to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.
Assisting the indebted country was tantamount to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.
Public Vote and Reversal
That summer, those punitive conditions were put to a public vote, an action that plunged the EU into a further crisis of identity.
Even though the referendum was won resoundingly by voters against austerity, Tsipras was forced to reject its outcome then agree to a bailout package from foreign lenders which proved to be tougher.
Final Straw
The ex-PM claimed that he started questioning Varoufakis relatively soon.
“He was the face of the talks, the figure who attracted publicity, who graced the front pages of publications the world over … he gave the impression he was enjoying his new role.”
When the minister outlined a backup strategy that included establishing a secondary currency and issuing vouchers to retirees, the leader knew it was the end and asked him: “Can you be serious?”
Enduring Criticism
Within the book, Tsipras concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself “unfit for an agreement that required intricate and delicate handling.”
Tsipras also claimed how Varoufakis's aggressive style left him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, while helped hawks who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.
This account of events has been met with fury along with shock in some quarters, while the former minister has maintained a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
