In a newly released personal account, titled Ithaki, the former premier Tsipras pulls no punches while he revisits the turbulent period during Greece's economic turmoil.
An Unconventional Appointment
According to the ex-PM's account, Tsipras chose that maverick academic Varoufakis to be the finance minister mainly because of his worldwide fame and his “extremely attractive” abilities as a public orator.
“He was, in reality, more of a celebrity rather than an economic expert,” wrote Tsipras.
Clashing Agendas
Tsipras suggests how Varoufakis possessed a personal motives which included promoting his books and experimenting with his theories on the nation rather than genuinely advocating the country's economic stability.
He noted that those negotiations to prevent bankruptcy became “not just a method to secure a better deal for the country. They were a test, an historic chance to demonstrate the truth of his ideas.”
High-Stakes Talks
Amid volatile negotiations, Greece found itself perilously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.
On the line was not only Greece's destiny and those harsh austerity measures required in return for rescue loans by international creditors.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Attempts to secure financing elsewhere, such as a desperate appeal to the Kremlin to buy Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.
Helping the indebted country would be tantamount to throwing money into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have told Tsipras during their meeting.
Public Vote and U-Turn
That summer, the harsh bailout terms were subjected to a public vote, an action which threw the EU into further existential crisis.
Although the referendum was won decisively by voters against the cuts, the prime minister was forced to ignore the result and negotiate a rescue deal with foreign lenders that turned out to be tougher.
Final Straw
The ex-PM claimed how he began to doubt his finance minister quite early on.
“He was the public image of the talks, the man who attracted media attention, who graced the covers of publications the world over … he gave the impression he was enjoying the spotlight.”
When the minister outlined a contingency plan that included creating a secondary currency as well as distributing coupons to pensioners, the leader knew that it was game over and asked him: “Can you be serious?”
Lasting Criticism
In the book, the author concludes that his former ally had proved himself “unsuitable for an agreement that required intricate and delicate handling.”
He also wrote that his confrontational style left him more and more alone with colleagues, endangered the country, and assisted hardliners that were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.
The account of events has provoked fury along with shock among certain groups, whereas the former minister has kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
