In a freshly published memoir, named Ithaki, the ex- premier Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism as he examines the turbulent era during Greece's debt drama.
An Unconventional Choice
In the ex-PM's account, he chose that maverick economist Varoufakis to be the treasury head largely because of his global profile and his highly compelling skills when it came to speaker.
“In reality, he was, actually, more like a star rather than an economist,” recalled the 51-year-old.
Conflicting Priorities
Tsipras claims that his finance chief had his own motives which involved advancing his books and experimenting with his game theories using the nation rather than genuinely fighting for the country's economic stability.
He noted that the negotiations to prevent insolvency became “not only a way of achieving a better deal for Greece. They became an experiment, a monumental chance to demonstrate the validity of his ideas.”
High-Stakes Talks
During volatile negotiations, the country found itself dangerously on the brink of leaving the single currency area.
On the line lay not only Greece's destiny and the harsh austerity policies demanded in exchange for rescue loans from international creditors.
Failed Alternatives
Efforts to secure financing from other sources, such as an urgent plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek bonds, were rejected.
Assisting the indebted country would be equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly informed his Greek counterpart in Moscow.
Referendum Followed by U-Turn
In July 2015, the excoriating bailout terms were put to a public vote, an action which plunged the EU into a further existential crisis.
Even though the vote was won resoundingly by voters who opposed austerity, Tsipras was forced but to ignore the result and agree to a rescue deal from creditors which proved to be even harsher.
Final Straw
Tsipras revealed that he started questioning his finance minister relatively soon.
“He was the public image of the talks, the figure who drew publicity, who graced the covers of magazines the world over … he gave the impression he relished the spotlight.”
When the minister proposed a backup strategy that included creating a secondary currency as well as distributing coupons to pensioners, the leader said he realised it was game over questioning him: “Is this for real?”
Lasting Criticism
In the book, Tsipras asserts that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for a deal that required intricate and sensitive handling.”
Tsipras also claimed that Varoufakis's aggressive style left him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, while helped hardliners who were pushing for Grexit.
This account of history has been met with anger and stunned disbelief among certain groups, while the former minister has so far maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.
