Within his freshly published personal account, named Ithaki, the former leader Alexis Tsipras pulls no punches as he revisits the turbulent period of Greece's debt drama.
An Unconventional Choice
In the ex-PM's version, Tsipras selected the maverick academic Varoufakis as the treasury head largely because of his global profile along with Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” skills as a public orator.
“He was, truthfully, more of a star and less of an economist,” stated Tsipras.
Clashing Agendas
The former leader claims that Varoufakis had a personal motives which involved promoting Varoufakis's publications and testing out his game theories using the nation rather than genuinely advocating its economic stability.
He wrote that the discussions to avoid insolvency became “not only a method of achieving a better deal for the country. They became a test, a monumental opportunity to prove the validity of Varoufakis's theories.”
Critical Talks
During tense discussions, the country found itself perilously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.
On the line lay both the country's destiny but also those severe austerity policies required in return for bailout funds by international creditors.
Failed Alternatives
Attempts to find funds from other sources, including a desperate appeal to Russia to purchase Greek bonds, were rejected.
Helping Greece was equivalent to throwing money into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.
Public Vote Followed by U-Turn
In July 2015, those excoriating conditions were put to a public vote, a move that plunged Europe into a further crisis of identity.
Although the vote was carried resoundingly by voters who opposed the cuts, Tsipras had little option but to ignore the result then negotiate a rescue deal with foreign lenders which proved to be even harsher.
Breaking Point
Tsipras claimed how he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.
“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the man who drew publicity, who graced the covers of publications globally … it seemed he was enjoying his new role.”
When the minister outlined a contingency plan involving creating a secondary currency as well as distributing vouchers to retirees, Tsipras said he realised that it was the end questioning Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”
Lasting Criticism
Within the book, Tsipras concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself “unsuitable for a deal that required complex and sensitive management.”
He further claimed how his confrontational approach made him increasingly isolated with colleagues, endangered the country, and helped hardliners that were advocating Grexit.
The account of history has been met with fury and stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas the former minister has so far kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
