In a newly released personal account, called Ithaki, the former premier Alexis Tsipras does not hold back as he reflects on the turbulent period of Greece's financial crisis.
A Controversial Choice
In the ex-PM's version, he selected the unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis as his finance minister primarily because of his worldwide fame and Varoufakis's highly compelling skills as a speaker.
“He was, truthfully, more of a personality rather than an economist,” recalled the 51-year-old.
Conflicting Priorities
Tsipras claims how his finance chief had his own agenda which involved advancing Varoufakis's publications and experimenting with his economic models on Greece instead of truly advocating its financial survival.
Tsipras wrote how the negotiations to stave off insolvency were “not only a method to secure improved terms for the country. They became an experiment, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the truth of Varoufakis's economic theories.”
Critical Talks
Amid volatile discussions, the country came dangerously close to exiting the single currency area.
On the line lay both Greece's destiny and those harsh cutbacks required in return for rescue loans from international creditors.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Attempts to find funds elsewhere, including a desperate plea to Russia to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.
Assisting the indebted country was equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, Putin is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.
Public Vote Followed by Reversal
That summer, those punitive conditions were put to a public vote, an action which threw Europe into a further crisis of identity.
Even though the referendum was won resoundingly by voters against austerity, the prime minister was forced but to reject its outcome and negotiate a bailout package with foreign lenders that turned out to be more severe.
Final Straw
Tsipras claimed that he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.
“Varoufakis was the face of the talks, the figure who attracted media attention, who appeared on the covers of publications the world over … he gave the impression he was enjoying the spotlight.”
When Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan that included creating a secondary currency as well as issuing vouchers to pensioners, Tsipras said he realised that it was game over and asked Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”
Enduring Rebuke
Within the book, Tsipras asserts how his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unfit for a deal that required intricate and delicate handling.”
Tsipras also claimed how Varoufakis's aggressive style made him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, and assisted hawks that were advocating Grexit.
This retelling of history has been met with anger along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas Varoufakis has so far kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.
