Within his newly released memoir, called Ithaki, the ex- premier Tsipras pulls no punches while he examines the turbulent period of Greece's financial crisis.
A Controversial Appointment
According to Tsipras's account, he chose the maverick academic Varoufakis as the finance minister largely because of the latter's worldwide fame and Varoufakis's very persuasive abilities when it came to speaker.
“He was, truthfully, more of a star and less of an economic expert,” stated the 51-year-old.
Clashing Agendas
The former leader suggests how his finance chief possessed his own agenda which included advancing Varoufakis's publications and experimenting with his own theories on Greece rather than truly fighting for the country's financial survival.
He wrote that those negotiations to stave off insolvency became “not just a way of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were a test, an historic opportunity to prove the truth of Varoufakis's ideas.”
Critical Talks
Amid volatile negotiations, Greece found itself dangerously close to exiting the single currency area.
On the line lay not only Greece's destiny and those punishing austerity policies demanded in return for rescue loans by foreign lenders.
Failed Alternatives
Attempts to find funds from other sources, such as a desperate plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, were rejected.
Helping Greece was tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin reportedly informed Tsipras during their meeting.
Referendum and U-Turn
That summer, those punitive bailout terms were put to a popular referendum, an action which threw the EU into further existential crisis.
Even though the vote was won resoundingly by voters against the cuts, the prime minister was forced but to ignore the result then agree to a rescue deal with creditors which proved to be tougher.
Final Straw
The ex-PM revealed that he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.
“He was the public image of the talks, the figure who drew media attention, who graced the covers of publications the world over … he gave the impression he was enjoying the spotlight.”
When Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan involving creating a parallel currency as well as issuing coupons to retirees, the leader knew it was the end questioning him: “Are you serious?”
Enduring Rebuke
In the book, the author asserts how his former ally had proved himself to be “unfit for a deal demanding intricate and delicate handling.”
He also claimed how his confrontational approach left him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, while helped hawks who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
The retelling of history has provoked anger along with shock in some quarters, while Varoufakis has maintained a conspicuous quiet on the matter.
