Within his freshly published personal account, called Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism as he reflects on the turbulent period of Greece's economic turmoil.
A Controversial Choice
According to Tsipras's version, he appointed the unorthodox academic Varoufakis as the treasury head primarily due to his worldwide fame and Varoufakis's highly compelling abilities when it came to speaker.
“He was, in reality, more of a star and less of an economic expert,” stated the 51-year-old.
Clashing Agendas
The former leader alleges how his finance chief possessed a personal motives which included promoting his publications and experimenting with his own game theories on the nation rather than genuinely fighting for the country's economic stability.
Tsipras wrote how those talks to prevent bankruptcy became “not only a method of achieving improved terms for Greece. They became an experiment, an historic chance to prove the truth of his economic theories.”
Critical Talks
Amid rollercoaster negotiations, the country came perilously close to exiting the single currency area.
On the line was both Greece's future but also the harsh austerity measures demanded in exchange for financial aid from foreign lenders.
Failed Alternatives
Attempts to find financing from other sources, including a desperate appeal to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, went unanswered.
Assisting the indebted country would be equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, the Russian leader reportedly told Tsipras in Moscow.
Referendum and Reversal
That summer, those excoriating conditions were put to a public vote, a move that threw the EU into deeper crisis of identity.
Even though the referendum was won decisively by those who opposed austerity, Tsipras had little option to ignore the result then negotiate a bailout package from foreign lenders which turned out to be more severe.
Final Straw
Tsipras claimed how he started questioning his finance minister quite early on.
“He was the face of negotiation, the man who drew media attention, who appeared on the front pages of magazines globally … he gave the impression he was enjoying the spotlight.”
After the minister outlined a contingency plan that included establishing a secondary currency as well as issuing coupons to retirees, the leader knew that it was game over questioning Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”
Lasting Criticism
In the memoir, Tsipras concludes how Varoufakis had proved himself “unsuitable for a deal that required intricate and delicate management.”
Tsipras also claimed that his confrontational approach left him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, while assisted hardliners who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
The retelling of history has provoked anger and shock among certain groups, while the former minister has so far maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.
