Within his recently unveiled autobiography, called Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras does not hold back while he revisits that turbulent era during Greece's debt drama.
A Controversial Appointment
According to Tsipras's version, Tsipras appointed the maverick academic Varoufakis as his finance minister mainly due to his worldwide fame along with his very persuasive abilities when it came to communicator.
“In reality, he was, truthfully, more of a star and less of an economic expert,” wrote the 51-year-old.
Clashing Agendas
The former leader alleges how Varoufakis possessed his own agenda which involved promoting Varoufakis's books and experimenting with his own theories on the nation rather than genuinely advocating the country's financial survival.
He wrote that the discussions to avoid bankruptcy were “not only a method of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were an experiment, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's ideas.”
Critical Negotiations
During tense discussions, the country came perilously on the brink of exiting the single currency area.
On the line was not only the country's future but also the harsh austerity measures demanded in return for financial aid by foreign lenders.
Failed Alternatives
Attempts to secure financing elsewhere, including an urgent appeal to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.
Helping Greece was tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have informed Tsipras in Moscow.
Public Vote and Reversal
In July 2015, those punitive conditions were subjected to a popular referendum, a move which threw Europe into further existential crisis.
Even though the vote was won resoundingly by those against austerity, the prime minister had little option but to ignore the result then agree to a bailout package with creditors which proved to be even harsher.
Breaking Point
The ex-PM revealed how he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.
“Varoufakis was the public image of the talks, the man who drew media attention, who graced the covers of magazines the world over … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”
When Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan involving creating a secondary currency as well as distributing vouchers to pensioners, the leader knew that it was game over questioning Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”
Enduring Criticism
Within the book, Tsipras asserts how his former ally demonstrated himself “unfit for a deal that required intricate and sensitive handling.”
He also claimed how Varoufakis's confrontational approach left him increasingly isolated with colleagues, put Greece at risk, and assisted hawks that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
This retelling of events has been met with fury along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, while the former minister has so far kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
