Within his newly released personal account, named Ithaki, the ex- leader Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism as he examines that chaotic era during Greece's financial crisis.
A Controversial Choice
In Tsipras's recollections, Tsipras selected the maverick academic Varoufakis as the finance minister primarily because of his worldwide fame and his “extremely attractive” abilities when it came to speaker.
“He was, in reality, more like a personality and less of an economic expert,” wrote Tsipras.
Conflicting Agendas
The former leader suggests that his finance chief had his own agenda which involved advancing his books as well as experimenting with his game theories using Greece rather than genuinely advocating the country's economic stability.
Tsipras wrote that the discussions to avoid insolvency were “not only a way of achieving a better deal for the country. They became an experiment, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the truth of Varoufakis's ideas.”
High-Stakes Talks
Amid tense negotiations, the country found itself dangerously close to exiting the eurozone.
On the line was both the country's destiny and those punishing austerity measures demanded in return for rescue loans from foreign lenders.
Failed Alternatives
Attempts to find funds elsewhere, including a desperate appeal to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, were rejected.
Assisting Greece would be equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, the Russian leader is reputed to have told Tsipras in Moscow.
Public Vote Followed by U-Turn
That summer, the harsh conditions were subjected to a public vote, an action that threw the EU into a further crisis of identity.
Even though the referendum was won resoundingly by those who opposed the cuts, Tsipras had little option to reject its outcome then agree to a bailout package with foreign lenders which turned out to be more severe.
Final Straw
The ex-PM revealed how he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.
“Varoufakis was the face of the talks, the figure who drew media attention, who graced the front pages of publications globally … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”
After Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan that included establishing a parallel currency as well as distributing coupons to retirees, the leader said he realised it was the end questioning Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”
Lasting Criticism
Within the memoir, Tsipras asserts that his former ally had proved himself to be “unfit for an agreement demanding intricate and sensitive handling.”
He further claimed that Varoufakis's confrontational approach left him more and more alone with colleagues, endangered the country, while helped hardliners who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
This retelling of history has provoked fury and shock in some quarters, whereas Varoufakis has so far kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.
