Within his freshly published personal account, named Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras does not hold back while he revisits that chaotic era during Greece's economic turmoil.
An Unconventional Appointment
According to the ex-PM's account, he appointed the unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be the treasury head mainly due to his worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” skills when it came to communicator.
“He was, in reality, more like a personality rather than an economic expert,” stated Tsipras.
Conflicting Agendas
The former leader claims that Varoufakis possessed his own motives which involved promoting Varoufakis's books and experimenting with his own theories using the nation rather than truly advocating the country's financial survival.
He explained how those negotiations to prevent bankruptcy were “not only a method of achieving a better deal for the country. They became a test, a monumental opportunity to prove the validity of Varoufakis's ideas.”
Critical Talks
Amid tense negotiations, Greece came dangerously close to exiting the eurozone.
At stake was not only Greece's future but also those severe cutbacks demanded in return for bailout funds by foreign lenders.
Failed Alternatives
Efforts to find funds elsewhere, including an urgent plea to Russia to buy Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.
Assisting Greece would be tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have told Tsipras during their meeting.
Public Vote Followed by Reversal
In July 2015, those harsh bailout terms were subjected to a popular referendum, a move that threw Europe into deeper existential crisis.
Even though the vote was won decisively by those who opposed austerity, the prime minister was forced but to reject its outcome then negotiate a rescue deal from foreign lenders which proved to be tougher.
Final Straw
The ex-PM claimed how he started questioning his finance minister quite early on.
“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the man who drew publicity, who graced the front pages of magazines globally … he gave the impression he was enjoying the spotlight.”
When Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan that included establishing a parallel currency and issuing vouchers to pensioners, the leader knew it was the end and asked him: “Can you be serious?”
Enduring Rebuke
Within the book, the author concludes that his former ally had proved himself to be “unfit for a deal that required complex and sensitive management.”
He also wrote that Varoufakis's aggressive style left him increasingly isolated among peers, endangered the country, while helped hardliners that were advocating Grexit.
This retelling of events has provoked anger along with shock among certain groups, whereas the former minister has so far kept a deafening silence on the matter.
