Within his freshly published autobiography, titled Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Alexis Tsipras pulls no punches while he revisits the chaotic era of Greece's financial crisis.
A Controversial Choice
According to the ex-PM's account, he selected the unorthodox economist Varoufakis to be the treasury head largely due to his global profile along with his very persuasive abilities when it came to communicator.
“In reality, he was, in reality, more of a celebrity rather than an economist,” wrote the 51-year-old.
Conflicting Agendas
Tsipras claims how his finance chief possessed a personal motives that included promoting Varoufakis's books as well as testing out his own theories on the nation instead of truly fighting for the country's financial survival.
He wrote that the talks to stave off insolvency became “not just a way of achieving improved terms for Greece. They were an experiment, a monumental opportunity to prove the validity of his theories.”
Critical Talks
During volatile discussions, the country found itself perilously close to leaving the single currency area.
At stake was both the country's future but also those severe austerity measures required in return for bailout funds by foreign lenders.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Attempts to secure funds elsewhere, including a desperate plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.
Helping Greece was equivalent to throwing money into the garbage, Putin reportedly informed his Greek counterpart during their meeting.
Referendum Followed by Reversal
In July 2015, those excoriating conditions were put to a public vote, a move that plunged Europe into further crisis of identity.
Even though the vote was won resoundingly by voters against the cuts, the prime minister had little option but to ignore the result then negotiate a rescue deal with creditors that turned out to be tougher.
Breaking Point
Tsipras claimed how he began to doubt Varoufakis quite early on.
“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the figure who attracted media attention, who appeared on the front pages of magazines globally … it seemed he was enjoying his new role.”
When the minister outlined a contingency plan involving creating a parallel currency as well as issuing coupons to pensioners, the leader knew that it was the end and asked Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”
Lasting Rebuke
Within the book, Tsipras asserts how his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unfit for a deal demanding intricate and delicate management.”
He also wrote how his aggressive style left him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, while assisted hawks that were advocating Grexit.
The account of events has provoked anger and stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas Varoufakis has kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.
