Within his freshly published personal account, titled Ithaki, the ex- premier Tsipras spares no criticism while he examines that turbulent era during Greece's financial crisis.
An Unconventional Appointment
In Tsipras's recollections, he chose that maverick academic Yanis Varoufakis to be his treasury head mainly due to the latter's international reputation along with his “extremely attractive” skills as a speaker.
“In reality, he was, truthfully, more like a personality rather than an economic expert,” wrote the 51-year-old.
Conflicting Agendas
The former leader alleges how his finance chief possessed a personal motives which included advancing his books as well as testing out his theories using the nation instead of genuinely advocating its financial survival.
He noted that the talks to prevent bankruptcy were “not just a method of achieving a better deal for the country. They were a test, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the truth of his ideas.”
Critical Talks
Amid tense discussions, the country came perilously close to exiting the eurozone.
At stake lay not only Greece's destiny and the punishing cutbacks required in exchange for rescue loans by foreign lenders.
Failed Options
Attempts to secure financing elsewhere, including an urgent appeal to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.
Assisting the indebted country would be tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, the Russian leader reportedly informed Tsipras in Moscow.
Referendum Followed by U-Turn
That summer, those harsh conditions were put to a popular referendum, an action that threw the EU into deeper crisis of identity.
Even though the referendum was won decisively by those who opposed the cuts, the prime minister was forced to ignore the result and negotiate a rescue deal with creditors which proved to be tougher.
Final Straw
The ex-PM claimed that he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.
“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the man who drew publicity, who graced the covers of publications globally … he gave the impression he relished his new role.”
After the minister outlined a contingency plan that included establishing a parallel currency and issuing vouchers to pensioners, the leader knew it was the end and asked Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”
Lasting Rebuke
In the book, Tsipras concludes that Varoufakis demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement that required intricate and delicate management.”
Tsipras further wrote how Varoufakis's aggressive style left him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, while helped hardliners who were advocating Grexit.
This account of history has been met with anger along with shock in some quarters, whereas Varoufakis has kept a conspicuous quiet on the matter.
