Within his freshly published autobiography, named Ithaki, the former leader Tsipras spares no criticism while he examines the chaotic era during Greece's economic turmoil.
An Unconventional Choice
According to the ex-PM's account, Tsipras selected the maverick economist Yanis Varoufakis as his finance minister primarily because of his global profile along with Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” abilities when it came to speaker.
“In reality, he was, actually, more of a star rather than an economist,” recalled the 51-year-old.
Conflicting Priorities
Tsipras alleges how his finance chief had his own motives which involved advancing his books and testing out his own theories on Greece rather than truly fighting for its economic stability.
He noted that those discussions to avoid bankruptcy were “not just a method of achieving improved terms for Greece. They became a test, a monumental chance to demonstrate the truth of his ideas.”
High-Stakes Negotiations
Amid tense discussions, the country came perilously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.
On the line was both the country's future but also those harsh austerity policies demanded in exchange for financial aid from international creditors.
Failed Options
Attempts to find funds elsewhere, including a desperate plea to Russia to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.
Helping Greece was equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have told Tsipras during their meeting.
Public Vote and U-Turn
That summer, the harsh bailout terms were put to a public vote, a move which plunged Europe into a further existential crisis.
Even though the referendum was carried decisively by voters who opposed austerity, the prime minister had little option but to ignore the result and agree to a bailout package with creditors that turned out to be tougher.
Breaking Point
The ex-PM revealed how he started questioning Varoufakis relatively soon.
“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the man who drew media attention, who graced the covers of publications globally … he gave the impression he relished the spotlight.”
After Varoufakis proposed a backup strategy involving creating a parallel currency and distributing vouchers to pensioners, Tsipras said he realised it was the end questioning him: “Can you be serious?”
Enduring Criticism
Within the book, Tsipras concludes how Varoufakis demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement that required intricate and delicate handling.”
He further claimed how Varoufakis's aggressive approach left him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, while helped hardliners who were advocating Grexit.
The account of events has provoked anger along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, while Varoufakis has maintained a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
