In a freshly published memoir, titled Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Tsipras does not hold back as he examines the chaotic period during Greece's debt drama.
An Unconventional Choice
In Tsipras's version, Tsipras selected the unorthodox economist Varoufakis as his finance minister mainly due to his international reputation along with Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” abilities when it came to speaker.
“He was, truthfully, more like a personality rather than an economist,” wrote the 51-year-old.
Clashing Priorities
The former leader claims that his finance chief possessed a personal motives that involved advancing Varoufakis's publications as well as experimenting with his theories on Greece rather than truly advocating its financial survival.
Tsipras noted how those negotiations to avoid bankruptcy became “not only a method to secure improved terms for the country. They were an experiment, a monumental chance to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's economic theories.”
Critical Talks
Amid tense negotiations, Greece came perilously on the brink of leaving the eurozone.
On the line lay both the country's destiny but also the harsh austerity measures required in exchange for financial aid from international creditors.
Failed Options
Attempts to find funds elsewhere, including an urgent plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.
Helping Greece was tantamount to tossing cash in the trash-can, Putin is reputed to have informed his Greek counterpart during their meeting.
Public Vote and Reversal
That summer, those punitive bailout terms were subjected to a public vote, a move which threw the EU into further crisis of identity.
Although the vote was won decisively by those who opposed austerity, Tsipras was forced to ignore the result and agree to a rescue deal with creditors which turned out to be tougher.
Breaking Point
Tsipras claimed that he started questioning his finance minister relatively soon.
“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the man who drew publicity, who graced the front pages of publications globally … it seemed he relished his new role.”
After Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan that included establishing a secondary currency and issuing vouchers to retirees, the leader knew that it was the end questioning Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”
Lasting Rebuke
In the memoir, Tsipras concludes that his former ally had proved himself to be “unfit for a deal that required intricate and delicate management.”
Tsipras further wrote that his aggressive style made him increasingly isolated among peers, endangered the country, while helped hardliners who were pushing for Grexit.
The account of events has been met with anger along with shock in some quarters, while Varoufakis has so far kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.
