Within his newly released memoir, called Ithaki, the ex- leader Alexis Tsipras pulls no punches while he examines the turbulent era of Greece's debt drama.
An Unconventional Choice
In Tsipras's version, he selected the maverick academic Varoufakis as the finance minister mainly because of his worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's very persuasive skills when it came to communicator.
“He was, actually, more like a star and less of an economic expert,” wrote Tsipras.
Conflicting Priorities
The former leader suggests how Varoufakis possessed a personal agenda that involved promoting Varoufakis's books and experimenting with his own game theories on the nation instead of genuinely fighting for its economic stability.
Tsipras wrote how the discussions to prevent insolvency became “not only a method to secure improved terms for the country. They were an experiment, a monumental chance to prove the validity of Varoufakis's theories.”
Critical Talks
Amid tense discussions, the country came dangerously close to leaving the single currency area.
At stake was both the country's future and those severe cutbacks required in exchange for rescue loans by international creditors.
Failed Options
Attempts to find funds elsewhere, such as a desperate appeal to Russia to purchase Greek government bonds, were rejected.
Helping the indebted country would be equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, Putin reportedly informed his Greek counterpart in Moscow.
Referendum and Reversal
In July 2015, the punitive conditions were subjected to a public vote, a move which threw the EU into further existential crisis.
Even though the referendum was carried decisively by those against the cuts, Tsipras was forced to ignore the result and negotiate a rescue deal with foreign lenders which turned out to be more severe.
Final Straw
Tsipras claimed that he began to doubt his finance minister quite early on.
“Varoufakis was the public image of the talks, the man who attracted publicity, who graced the covers of publications globally … it seemed he was enjoying his new role.”
After the minister proposed a contingency plan that included establishing a parallel currency and distributing coupons to pensioners, Tsipras said he realised that it was the end questioning him: “Are you serious?”
Enduring Criticism
Within the book, the author concludes how his former ally demonstrated himself “unfit for an agreement demanding complex and sensitive management.”
Tsipras also wrote that Varoufakis's confrontational style made him increasingly isolated with colleagues, put Greece at risk, and helped hardliners that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
This retelling of events has been met with fury along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas Varoufakis has so far maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.
