In a recently unveiled autobiography, named Ithaki, the ex- premier Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism while he revisits the turbulent era of Greece's financial crisis.
A Controversial Appointment
In the ex-PM's version, Tsipras selected that unorthodox economist Varoufakis to be the finance minister primarily due to the latter's worldwide fame along with his very persuasive abilities as a public orator.
“He was, truthfully, more like a star and less of an economic expert,” stated the 51-year-old.
Conflicting Priorities
Tsipras claims how Varoufakis had a personal motives that involved promoting Varoufakis's books as well as testing out his own game theories using Greece rather than genuinely advocating its financial survival.
Tsipras explained that those discussions to avoid insolvency became “not only a method of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were an experiment, an historic chance to prove the truth of Varoufakis's economic theories.”
Critical Talks
Amid volatile negotiations, Greece came dangerously close to exiting the single currency area.
At stake was both Greece's destiny and the harsh cutbacks required in exchange for financial aid by international creditors.
Failed Alternatives
Efforts to secure financing from other sources, including a desperate appeal to Russia to buy Greek bonds, went unanswered.
Assisting the indebted country would be equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, Putin is reputed to have informed his Greek counterpart in Moscow.
Public Vote and Reversal
That summer, the harsh conditions were subjected to a public vote, an action which plunged Europe into deeper crisis of identity.
Even though the referendum was carried resoundingly by voters against the cuts, Tsipras had little option to reject its outcome and agree to a rescue deal from creditors that turned out to be even harsher.
Breaking Point
Tsipras revealed that he began to doubt Varoufakis quite early on.
“Varoufakis was the public image of the talks, the man who drew publicity, who graced the covers of magazines globally … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”
After the minister outlined a backup strategy that included establishing a secondary currency as well as distributing coupons to retirees, Tsipras said he realised it was game over and asked him: “Is this for real?”
Enduring Rebuke
Within the book, the author concludes that Varoufakis had proved himself “unfit for an agreement demanding complex and sensitive management.”
He also claimed how his aggressive style left him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while assisted hardliners that were pushing for Grexit.
The retelling of events has been met with fury and stunned disbelief in some quarters, while the former minister has so far maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.
