Within his freshly published autobiography, titled Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Tsipras spares no criticism as he revisits the turbulent era during Greece's debt drama.
An Unconventional Choice
In Tsipras's version, he appointed the unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be the finance minister primarily due to the latter's international reputation and his “extremely attractive” abilities as a public orator.
“He was, truthfully, more like a personality rather than an economist,” stated Tsipras.
Clashing Agendas
The former leader alleges how his finance chief possessed his own agenda that involved promoting Varoufakis's publications as well as testing out his own theories on the nation instead of genuinely advocating the country's economic stability.
He noted how those discussions to stave off insolvency were “not just a method of achieving a better deal for Greece. They became a test, a monumental chance to demonstrate the validity of his ideas.”
Critical Talks
Amid rollercoaster negotiations, the country found itself dangerously close to leaving the eurozone.
At stake was both the country's future and those harsh cutbacks demanded in exchange for bailout funds from international creditors.
Unsuccessful Options
Efforts to secure financing elsewhere, such as a desperate plea to Russia to buy Greek bonds, went unanswered.
Assisting Greece would be equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have informed Tsipras in Moscow.
Public Vote and U-Turn
In July 2015, those punitive conditions were put to a public vote, an action that threw the EU into deeper crisis of identity.
Although the vote was won resoundingly by those who opposed the cuts, the prime minister had little option to ignore the result and negotiate a bailout package with creditors that proved to be tougher.
Final Straw
Tsipras claimed how he started questioning his finance minister quite early on.
“He was the face of negotiation, the man who attracted media attention, who appeared on the covers of publications the world over … it seemed he was enjoying his new role.”
When the minister outlined a backup strategy that included creating a parallel currency as well as issuing vouchers to retirees, Tsipras said he realised it was the end questioning Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”
Lasting Rebuke
Within the memoir, the author asserts how Varoufakis had proved himself “unfit for an agreement demanding complex and delicate handling.”
He also wrote that his confrontational approach left him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, and assisted hawks that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
This retelling of history has provoked fury along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, while Varoufakis has maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.
