Within his newly released personal account, titled Ithaki, the former premier Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism as he revisits the chaotic era of Greece's debt drama.
A Controversial Choice
In Tsipras's recollections, Tsipras appointed the unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis as the finance minister mainly due to his worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” skills as a communicator.
“He was, truthfully, more of a star and less of an economic expert,” stated the 51-year-old.
Conflicting Agendas
Tsipras alleges how his finance chief had his own agenda which involved promoting his books as well as experimenting with his theories using Greece instead of truly fighting for its economic stability.
Tsipras explained that those negotiations to prevent bankruptcy became “not only a method to secure a better deal for the country. They became an experiment, an historic chance to prove the truth of his ideas.”
Critical Talks
Amid rollercoaster negotiations, the country came perilously on the brink of leaving the eurozone.
At stake lay both Greece's destiny and those punishing austerity policies demanded in return for bailout funds by foreign lenders.
Failed Alternatives
Attempts to find funds from other sources, such as an urgent appeal to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.
Assisting Greece was equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, Putin reportedly informed his Greek counterpart in Moscow.
Public Vote and Reversal
In July 2015, the excoriating bailout terms were put to a public vote, an action that plunged the EU into deeper existential crisis.
Even though the vote was carried decisively by those who opposed austerity, Tsipras was forced to ignore the result then negotiate a rescue deal with creditors which turned out to be tougher.
Breaking Point
The ex-PM claimed how he started questioning his finance minister quite early on.
“He was the public image of the talks, the figure who drew publicity, who appeared on the front pages of magazines the world over … he gave the impression he was enjoying the spotlight.”
When the minister proposed a contingency plan that included establishing a parallel currency as well as issuing vouchers to pensioners, the leader said he realised that it was game over and asked him: “Can you be serious?”
Enduring Criticism
Within the book, Tsipras concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement demanding complex and sensitive handling.”
Tsipras further wrote how his aggressive style made him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, and helped hawks that were pushing for Grexit.
The retelling of events has provoked anger and stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas Varoufakis has so far maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.
