In a freshly published autobiography, named Ithaki, the former leader Tsipras pulls no punches while he examines the chaotic period during Greece's debt drama.
An Unconventional Appointment
As per the ex-PM's version, Tsipras chose that unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis as the finance minister primarily because of his international reputation and Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” skills when it came to public orator.
“He was, actually, more like a celebrity and less of an economic expert,” wrote Tsipras.
Clashing Priorities
Tsipras alleges that his finance chief had a personal agenda which involved promoting his books as well as experimenting with his own game theories on the nation instead of genuinely advocating the country's financial survival.
He noted how the talks to stave off bankruptcy became “not just a method of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were an experiment, a monumental opportunity to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's theories.”
High-Stakes Talks
During tense discussions, Greece found itself perilously close to leaving the eurozone.
On the line was not only Greece's destiny but also the harsh austerity measures demanded in return for financial aid from international creditors.
Failed Alternatives
Efforts to secure funds from other sources, including an urgent plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek government bonds, went unanswered.
Helping the indebted country would be equivalent to throwing money into the garbage, Putin reportedly told Tsipras in Moscow.
Referendum and Reversal
That summer, those excoriating conditions were put to a popular referendum, a move which threw Europe into a further crisis of identity.
Even though the vote was carried resoundingly by voters who opposed austerity, the prime minister was forced to ignore the result and agree to a rescue deal with creditors that proved to be tougher.
Final Straw
The ex-PM revealed that he started questioning his finance minister quite early on.
“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the figure who attracted media attention, who appeared on the covers of publications globally … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”
When the minister proposed a contingency plan involving creating a secondary currency and issuing coupons to pensioners, Tsipras said he realised that it was game over questioning Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”
Lasting Rebuke
Within the memoir, Tsipras concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unfit for an agreement demanding intricate and delicate handling.”
Tsipras also wrote how his aggressive approach left him increasingly isolated with colleagues, endangered the country, and helped hardliners who were advocating Grexit.
The account of history has provoked fury along with shock in some quarters, while Varoufakis has kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.
