Within his recently unveiled memoir, called Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras spares no criticism while he revisits that turbulent era of Greece's economic turmoil.
A Controversial Choice
According to the ex-PM's version, he selected that maverick academic Varoufakis to be his finance minister mainly because of his worldwide fame along with his “extremely attractive” abilities as a public orator.
“He was, truthfully, more of a personality and less of an economic expert,” stated Tsipras.
Clashing Priorities
The former leader suggests how Varoufakis had a personal motives that involved advancing his publications and experimenting with his own game theories on the nation rather than genuinely advocating the country's financial survival.
He noted that those talks to prevent bankruptcy became “not just a method of achieving a better deal for the country. They were an experiment, an historic opportunity to prove the truth of his ideas.”
High-Stakes Negotiations
During tense discussions, the country found itself dangerously on the brink of leaving the single currency area.
On the line lay both Greece's future and the harsh cutbacks demanded in exchange for financial aid from foreign lenders.
Failed Options
Efforts to find financing elsewhere, such as a desperate plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.
Assisting Greece was equivalent to throwing money into the garbage, Putin reportedly told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.
Referendum Followed by U-Turn
In July 2015, the harsh bailout terms were put to a popular referendum, a move that plunged the EU into a deeper existential crisis.
Even though the vote was carried resoundingly by those who opposed the cuts, Tsipras had little option but to ignore the result and negotiate a bailout package with creditors that proved to be even harsher.
Breaking Point
The ex-PM claimed that he started questioning Varoufakis relatively soon.
“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the figure who attracted media attention, who appeared on the front pages of publications globally … it seemed he relished his new role.”
When Varoufakis outlined a backup strategy that included establishing a secondary currency as well as distributing coupons to pensioners, the leader said he realised that it was game over and asked him: “Is this for real?”
Enduring Rebuke
In the memoir, Tsipras asserts how Varoufakis had proved himself “unfit for a deal demanding intricate and sensitive management.”
Tsipras also claimed that Varoufakis's aggressive approach left him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while helped hawks who were pushing for Grexit.
This account of history has provoked anger along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, while the former minister has kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
