In a freshly published autobiography, called Ithaki, the ex- premier Tsipras pulls no punches while he reflects on the turbulent period of Greece's debt drama.
An Unconventional Choice
According to the ex-PM's account, he chose the maverick academic Varoufakis to be his treasury head mainly due to his worldwide fame and Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” skills when it came to communicator.
“He was, truthfully, more of a celebrity and less of an economist,” stated the 51-year-old.
Clashing Agendas
Tsipras alleges that Varoufakis possessed a personal motives which included promoting his publications as well as testing out his own game theories on Greece instead of truly fighting for its financial survival.
Tsipras noted how the negotiations to avoid bankruptcy became “not just a way to secure improved terms for the country. They became an experiment, a monumental chance to demonstrate the truth of his theories.”
Critical Negotiations
Amid rollercoaster discussions, Greece came perilously on the brink of exiting the single currency area.
On the line lay not only the country's destiny and the punishing cutbacks demanded in exchange for bailout funds from international creditors.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Efforts to secure funds from other sources, such as an urgent appeal to the Kremlin to purchase Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.
Helping Greece was tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin reportedly told Tsipras during their meeting.
Referendum and Reversal
That summer, those punitive conditions were put to a popular referendum, a move which threw Europe into further crisis of identity.
Although the vote was won resoundingly by those against austerity, the prime minister was forced but to ignore the result and negotiate a bailout package from foreign lenders that turned out to be more severe.
Breaking Point
The ex-PM revealed how he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.
“Varoufakis was the face of negotiation, the figure who drew publicity, who appeared on the front pages of magazines globally … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”
After Varoufakis outlined a backup strategy that included establishing a parallel currency and issuing vouchers to retirees, the leader said he realised that it was game over and asked him: “Are you serious?”
Lasting Rebuke
Within the book, Tsipras concludes how Varoufakis demonstrated himself to be “unfit for a deal demanding complex and delicate handling.”
He also claimed that his aggressive approach left him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, and assisted hardliners that were advocating Grexit.
This retelling of history has been met with fury along with shock among certain groups, whereas Varoufakis has so far maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.
