Within his newly released memoir, named Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism while he revisits the turbulent era of Greece's debt drama.
An Unconventional Choice
According to Tsipras's version, Tsipras chose that unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be the treasury head mainly because of his global profile along with his very persuasive abilities when it came to communicator.
“In reality, he was, truthfully, more of a celebrity and less of an economic expert,” wrote Tsipras.
Conflicting Agendas
The former leader suggests how his finance chief had a personal agenda that included advancing Varoufakis's books and experimenting with his own theories on Greece instead of truly fighting for the country's economic stability.
Tsipras noted that those talks to prevent insolvency became “not only a method to secure a better deal for the country. They were a test, a monumental chance to demonstrate the validity of his economic theories.”
Critical Negotiations
During tense discussions, the country found itself dangerously close to leaving the eurozone.
On the line lay not only the country's destiny but also the severe austerity policies demanded in exchange for rescue loans from foreign lenders.
Failed Options
Attempts to find funds from other sources, including an urgent plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.
Helping the indebted country was tantamount to tossing cash in the trash-can, Putin reportedly informed his Greek counterpart in Moscow.
Referendum and U-Turn
That summer, the punitive conditions were put to a public vote, an action which threw the EU into further crisis of identity.
Even though the vote was won decisively by voters against austerity, the prime minister was forced to ignore the result then negotiate a bailout package with creditors which turned out to be more severe.
Final Straw
Tsipras revealed how he started questioning Varoufakis quite early on.
“Varoufakis was the public image of the talks, the man who attracted media attention, who graced the covers of magazines globally … he gave the impression he relished the spotlight.”
After Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan involving creating a parallel currency as well as issuing coupons to retirees, Tsipras knew it was game over and asked him: “Can you be serious?”
Enduring Rebuke
Within the memoir, the author asserts that his former ally demonstrated himself “unfit for an agreement demanding intricate and sensitive management.”
He also claimed that Varoufakis's confrontational approach left him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, while helped hardliners that were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.
The account of history has provoked anger along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, while the former minister has so far kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
