Within his recently unveiled autobiography, named Ithaki, the ex- premier Alexis Tsipras does not hold back while he examines the chaotic era during Greece's financial crisis.
A Controversial Choice
In the ex-PM's version, he selected that unorthodox academic Varoufakis as the treasury head mainly because of his international reputation and his “extremely attractive” abilities as a communicator.
“He was, actually, more like a star and less of an economic expert,” wrote Tsipras.
Clashing Agendas
The former leader claims how his finance chief possessed his own motives that involved promoting his publications and testing out his game theories on Greece instead of truly advocating the country's economic stability.
Tsipras explained how those discussions to prevent bankruptcy were “not only a way to secure a better deal for Greece. They became an experiment, an historic opportunity to prove the truth of Varoufakis's ideas.”
High-Stakes Talks
During volatile discussions, Greece found itself perilously close to exiting the eurozone.
At stake was not only Greece's future and those severe austerity policies demanded in return for financial aid by foreign lenders.
Unsuccessful Options
Efforts to find financing elsewhere, such as a desperate appeal to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, were rejected.
Helping Greece was equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, the Russian leader reportedly informed Tsipras during their meeting.
Referendum and Reversal
In July 2015, the harsh bailout terms were put to a popular referendum, a move that threw the EU into deeper crisis of identity.
Even though the vote was won resoundingly by those against austerity, Tsipras was forced to reject its outcome then agree to a bailout package from foreign lenders which proved to be tougher.
Final Straw
Tsipras revealed that he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.
“He was the public image of negotiation, the man who attracted media attention, who appeared on the front pages of publications the world over … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”
After the minister outlined a contingency plan that included establishing a parallel currency and distributing vouchers to pensioners, the leader said he realised that it was the end questioning him: “Can you be serious?”
Lasting Rebuke
In the book, the author asserts that Varoufakis had proved himself to be “unfit for a deal demanding intricate and sensitive handling.”
Tsipras also wrote how his confrontational style left him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, while helped hawks that were pushing for Grexit.
The account of events has been met with anger along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas the former minister has so far kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
