In a freshly published autobiography, named Ithaki, the ex- premier Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism as he revisits that turbulent era of Greece's economic turmoil.
A Controversial Appointment
In the ex-PM's account, Tsipras chose the maverick academic Yanis Varoufakis as the finance minister largely because of his global profile and Varoufakis's highly compelling abilities as a speaker.
“In reality, he was, actually, more of a personality and less of an economic expert,” wrote Tsipras.
Conflicting Priorities
The former leader suggests that Varoufakis had a personal agenda which involved promoting Varoufakis's books as well as experimenting with his own theories on the nation rather than truly advocating its financial survival.
Tsipras explained how those talks to prevent insolvency became “not just a way to secure a better deal for Greece. They became an experiment, a monumental chance to prove the validity of his theories.”
Critical Talks
During rollercoaster negotiations, Greece found itself perilously on the brink of leaving the single currency area.
At stake was not only Greece's destiny but also those harsh austerity policies demanded in exchange for bailout funds by foreign lenders.
Failed Alternatives
Efforts to secure funds elsewhere, including an urgent plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, went unanswered.
Assisting Greece would be equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, Putin reportedly informed Tsipras in Moscow.
Public Vote Followed by U-Turn
In July 2015, the harsh bailout terms were subjected to a popular referendum, a move that threw the EU into further crisis of identity.
Even though the vote was won decisively by voters who opposed the cuts, Tsipras had little option to ignore the result then agree to a rescue deal from creditors that proved to be more severe.
Final Straw
The ex-PM claimed that he started questioning Varoufakis quite early on.
“He was the public image of the talks, the figure who attracted publicity, who appeared on the covers of publications the world over … it seemed he relished his new role.”
After Varoufakis proposed a backup strategy that included creating a parallel currency and distributing vouchers to retirees, the leader said he realised it was game over and asked Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”
Enduring Rebuke
Within the book, Tsipras concludes how Varoufakis demonstrated himself “unsuitable for an agreement demanding intricate and sensitive handling.”
He further wrote how his aggressive style made him more and more alone with colleagues, endangered the country, while helped hawks that were pushing for Grexit.
The account of events has provoked anger and shock among certain groups, whereas Varoufakis has so far maintained a conspicuous quiet on the matter.
