In a newly released personal account, titled Ithaki, the former premier Tsipras pulls no punches as he revisits the chaotic era of Greece's economic turmoil.
An Unconventional Choice
In Tsipras's version, Tsipras appointed the maverick economist Varoufakis to be his finance minister mainly because of his international reputation and Varoufakis's highly compelling abilities when it came to communicator.
“He was, in reality, more like a personality rather than an economic expert,” recalled the 51-year-old.
Conflicting Priorities
Tsipras claims how Varoufakis possessed a personal motives which included advancing Varoufakis's books and testing out his theories using Greece instead of genuinely advocating the country's financial survival.
He explained that those discussions to stave off bankruptcy were “not only a method to secure a better deal for the country. They became an experiment, an historic chance to prove the truth of Varoufakis's theories.”
High-Stakes Negotiations
Amid volatile discussions, Greece found itself perilously on the brink of leaving the eurozone.
On the line lay not only Greece's destiny and the punishing austerity measures demanded in return for bailout funds by international creditors.
Failed Options
Efforts to secure funds from other sources, such as a desperate plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek government bonds, went unanswered.
Helping Greece was equivalent to throwing money into the garbage, the Russian leader reportedly told Tsipras during their meeting.
Public Vote and U-Turn
In July 2015, the punitive bailout terms were put to a public vote, a move that threw Europe into a further crisis of identity.
Although the referendum was won decisively by those against the cuts, the prime minister was forced but to ignore the result and agree to a rescue deal with foreign lenders which turned out to be even harsher.
Final Straw
Tsipras revealed that he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.
“Varoufakis was the face of negotiation, the figure who drew media attention, who graced the covers of publications globally … he gave the impression he relished the spotlight.”
After the minister outlined a backup strategy involving creating a secondary currency as well as issuing coupons to pensioners, the leader said he realised that it was the end questioning him: “Is this for real?”
Lasting Rebuke
Within the book, the author asserts how Varoufakis had proved himself “unsuitable for an agreement demanding complex and delicate handling.”
He further claimed how his confrontational approach made him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, and helped hardliners who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
This account of events has been met with anger along with shock among certain groups, whereas the former minister has kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.
