Within his recently unveiled memoir, titled Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Tsipras does not hold back while he examines that chaotic period of Greece's economic turmoil.
An Unconventional Choice
In the ex-PM's recollections, he selected the maverick academic Varoufakis as his finance minister mainly because of the latter's international reputation and his very persuasive abilities as a speaker.
“In reality, he was, in reality, more of a celebrity and less of an economic expert,” stated the 51-year-old.
Clashing Priorities
The former leader claims that his finance chief had a personal agenda which involved advancing his publications as well as testing out his economic models on the nation rather than truly fighting for its economic stability.
Tsipras explained that the talks to prevent insolvency became “not just a method to secure improved terms for the country. They became an experiment, an historic chance to demonstrate the truth of his theories.”
Critical Talks
During rollercoaster discussions, Greece found itself perilously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.
At stake was not only Greece's destiny but also those severe cutbacks required in exchange for financial aid from foreign lenders.
Unsuccessful Options
Attempts to secure funds elsewhere, including a desperate plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.
Assisting Greece would be tantamount to throwing money in the trash-can, Putin reportedly told his Greek counterpart during their meeting.
Referendum Followed by Reversal
In July 2015, the excoriating bailout terms were put to a public vote, an action which threw Europe into a further crisis of identity.
Even though the vote was won decisively by those against austerity, Tsipras was forced to ignore the result then agree to a bailout package with foreign lenders which proved to be more severe.
Final Straw
The ex-PM claimed that he started questioning his finance minister relatively soon.
“Varoufakis was the face of negotiation, the man who attracted publicity, who graced the front pages of publications globally … he gave the impression he relished his new role.”
After Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan that included establishing a secondary currency and issuing coupons to pensioners, the leader said he realised it was game over questioning Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”
Enduring Criticism
Within the book, the author asserts that his former ally demonstrated himself “unsuitable for an agreement demanding intricate and sensitive handling.”
He also wrote how Varoufakis's confrontational approach left him increasingly isolated among peers, endangered the country, and helped hawks who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
This account of history has been met with fury along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas Varoufakis has maintained a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
