Within his newly released autobiography, called Ithaki, the former leader Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism as he reflects on the turbulent era of Greece's economic turmoil.
An Unconventional Choice
As per Tsipras's account, Tsipras selected that maverick academic Varoufakis as the finance minister mainly because of the latter's international reputation and Varoufakis's very persuasive abilities as a communicator.
“He was, truthfully, more like a star and less of an economist,” recalled Tsipras.
Clashing Agendas
The former leader suggests how Varoufakis possessed his own agenda which involved promoting Varoufakis's books and testing out his theories using the nation instead of genuinely fighting for the country's financial survival.
He noted how the discussions to stave off insolvency were “not just a method of achieving a better deal for Greece. They became an experiment, an historic chance to prove the validity of his ideas.”
High-Stakes Negotiations
During volatile negotiations, Greece came dangerously close to exiting the eurozone.
On the line lay both the country's future and those harsh cutbacks required in exchange for bailout funds by foreign lenders.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Attempts to secure funds elsewhere, including an urgent plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek bonds, were rejected.
Assisting the indebted country was tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin reportedly informed his Greek counterpart in Moscow.
Public Vote and Reversal
That summer, the harsh bailout terms were put to a popular referendum, an action which plunged the EU into deeper crisis of identity.
Although the vote was carried decisively by voters against the cuts, the prime minister was forced to ignore the result then agree to a bailout package from creditors which turned out to be tougher.
Breaking Point
Tsipras revealed how he started questioning Varoufakis quite early on.
“He was the public image of the talks, the man who drew media attention, who graced the front pages of publications the world over … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”
After the minister proposed a contingency plan involving creating a secondary currency as well as issuing vouchers to retirees, the leader knew it was game over and asked Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”
Enduring Criticism
Within the memoir, the author concludes how Varoufakis had proved himself “unsuitable for an agreement that required intricate and sensitive management.”
He further claimed how Varoufakis's confrontational style made him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, while helped hardliners that were advocating Grexit.
This account of events has been met with anger and stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas the former minister has so far kept a conspicuous quiet on the matter.
