In a newly released autobiography, called Ithaki, the former prime minister Tsipras does not hold back while he revisits that turbulent era during Greece's financial crisis.
An Unconventional Choice
In the ex-PM's account, he selected the maverick economist Varoufakis as the treasury head mainly due to his worldwide fame along with his “extremely attractive” skills when it came to speaker.
“He was, actually, more of a celebrity rather than an economic expert,” wrote Tsipras.
Clashing Priorities
The former leader claims how his finance chief possessed a personal motives that included promoting Varoufakis's books as well as experimenting with his game theories using the nation instead of truly fighting for the country's financial survival.
He wrote how the talks to stave off bankruptcy were “not only a method of achieving improved terms for the country. They became an experiment, an historic opportunity to prove the validity of Varoufakis's ideas.”
Critical Negotiations
During volatile negotiations, Greece found itself dangerously on the brink of leaving the eurozone.
On the line lay not only Greece's future but also those harsh cutbacks demanded in exchange for financial aid from foreign lenders.
Unsuccessful Options
Efforts to find funds elsewhere, including an urgent appeal to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, went unanswered.
Assisting Greece was equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, Putin is reputed to have told Tsipras in Moscow.
Referendum and U-Turn
That summer, those punitive conditions were subjected to a public vote, a move that plunged Europe into deeper existential crisis.
Even though the referendum was won resoundingly by those who opposed austerity, the prime minister was forced but to ignore the result and agree to a rescue deal from creditors which turned out to be even harsher.
Final Straw
The ex-PM revealed that he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.
“Varoufakis was the face of the talks, the man who attracted media attention, who graced the covers of publications globally … it seemed he was enjoying his new role.”
After the minister proposed a backup strategy involving creating a parallel currency and issuing vouchers to pensioners, Tsipras said he realised that it was the end and asked Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”
Lasting Rebuke
In the memoir, the author asserts how his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement demanding complex and delicate handling.”
He further wrote how Varoufakis's aggressive approach left him increasingly isolated with colleagues, endangered the country, while assisted hawks that were pushing for Grexit.
This retelling of events has been met with anger along with shock in some quarters, while Varoufakis has kept a deafening silence on the matter.
