Within his recently unveiled autobiography, titled Ithaki, the ex- leader Alexis Tsipras does not hold back while he revisits the turbulent era during Greece's debt drama.
An Unconventional Appointment
According to the ex-PM's account, he appointed that unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be the finance minister primarily because of his international reputation along with his highly compelling abilities when it came to communicator.
“He was, actually, more of a star and less of an economic expert,” wrote the 51-year-old.
Conflicting Priorities
Tsipras claims that Varoufakis had his own motives that involved advancing his publications as well as testing out his own game theories on Greece rather than genuinely advocating the country's economic stability.
Tsipras noted how the talks to avoid insolvency became “not only a way of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were an experiment, an historic chance to prove the validity of Varoufakis's economic theories.”
Critical Talks
Amid volatile discussions, Greece found itself dangerously close to exiting the eurozone.
On the line was not only Greece's destiny but also those harsh cutbacks required in exchange for financial aid by international creditors.
Failed Alternatives
Efforts to find financing elsewhere, including a desperate appeal to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, went unanswered.
Assisting the indebted country was tantamount to throwing money in the trash-can, Putin is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart during their meeting.
Referendum and U-Turn
In July 2015, those punitive bailout terms were subjected to a public vote, an action which threw Europe into further crisis of identity.
Even though the referendum was carried decisively by voters against the cuts, the prime minister was forced but to reject its outcome and agree to a bailout package with creditors that turned out to be more severe.
Breaking Point
Tsipras revealed that he started questioning his finance minister quite early on.
“He was the face of the talks, the man who drew publicity, who appeared on the front pages of magazines the world over … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”
When the minister proposed a backup strategy that included establishing a parallel currency and issuing coupons to pensioners, Tsipras knew that it was game over questioning Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”
Enduring Rebuke
Within the memoir, the author concludes how his former ally had proved himself “unsuitable for an agreement that required complex and delicate handling.”
Tsipras further claimed that Varoufakis's confrontational style made him more and more alone with colleagues, endangered the country, and helped hardliners that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
The retelling of events has been met with fury along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas the former minister has kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.
