Within his newly released personal account, titled Ithaki, the ex- premier Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism while he examines the chaotic period during Greece's debt drama.
A Controversial Appointment
As per the ex-PM's recollections, he chose the unorthodox economist Yanis Varoufakis as the treasury head primarily because of the latter's international reputation along with his very persuasive skills as a speaker.
“In reality, he was, actually, more of a celebrity rather than an economic expert,” stated the 51-year-old.
Conflicting Agendas
Tsipras claims how his finance chief possessed a personal agenda which involved promoting Varoufakis's books and testing out his own game theories on Greece rather than genuinely fighting for its financial survival.
He wrote how the discussions to prevent bankruptcy became “not just a method to secure improved terms for Greece. They were an experiment, a monumental chance to prove the validity of Varoufakis's economic theories.”
High-Stakes Negotiations
Amid tense discussions, the country found itself perilously close to exiting the eurozone.
At stake was not only the country's destiny and the severe cutbacks demanded in return for bailout funds by foreign lenders.
Failed Alternatives
Attempts to find funds elsewhere, including a desperate appeal to Russia to purchase Greek government bonds, were rejected.
Assisting Greece would be tantamount to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly informed his Greek counterpart during their meeting.
Referendum and Reversal
In July 2015, those excoriating conditions were subjected to a popular referendum, an action which threw Europe into a deeper crisis of identity.
Even though the referendum was carried resoundingly by voters who opposed austerity, the prime minister was forced to ignore the result and agree to a rescue deal with foreign lenders that proved to be tougher.
Final Straw
The ex-PM claimed how he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.
“He was the face of negotiation, the man who drew media attention, who appeared on the front pages of publications the world over … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”
When the minister proposed a contingency plan involving creating a secondary currency as well as distributing coupons to pensioners, Tsipras knew that it was the end and asked Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”
Lasting Rebuke
In the memoir, Tsipras concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement that required intricate and sensitive handling.”
Tsipras also claimed how his aggressive approach left him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, and helped hawks that were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.
The retelling of events has been met with fury along with shock among certain groups, whereas the former minister has so far kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
