In a newly released personal account, titled Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras pulls no punches while he reflects on the turbulent period of Greece's debt drama.
An Unconventional Appointment
According to the ex-PM's account, he chose that unorthodox economist Varoufakis to be his finance minister largely because of his worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's highly compelling abilities when it came to communicator.
“He was, actually, more of a celebrity rather than an economist,” stated the 51-year-old.
Conflicting Agendas
The former leader suggests how Varoufakis had a personal motives that included advancing his books and testing out his game theories using the nation rather than truly advocating its financial survival.
Tsipras explained that those discussions to avoid bankruptcy became “not just a way of achieving a better deal for the country. They were an experiment, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's theories.”
Critical Talks
Amid rollercoaster negotiations, Greece found itself perilously close to leaving the single currency area.
At stake lay not only the country's destiny and those punishing austerity policies required in return for rescue loans from international creditors.
Unsuccessful Options
Attempts to find financing elsewhere, including a desperate plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek government bonds, went unanswered.
Assisting the indebted country was equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, the Russian leader is reputed to have informed Tsipras during their meeting.
Public Vote Followed by Reversal
In July 2015, those harsh bailout terms were put to a popular referendum, an action which threw Europe into further crisis of identity.
Even though the referendum was carried resoundingly by voters against the cuts, Tsipras was forced to ignore the result and negotiate a bailout package with foreign lenders that turned out to be more severe.
Breaking Point
The ex-PM claimed that he began to doubt Varoufakis quite early on.
“He was the public image of the talks, the figure who attracted media attention, who graced the front pages of publications globally … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”
After the minister proposed a contingency plan involving creating a parallel currency and distributing vouchers to pensioners, Tsipras knew it was the end questioning him: “Can you be serious?”
Lasting Rebuke
Within the book, the author asserts that his former ally had proved himself to be “unsuitable for a deal demanding complex and delicate handling.”
He further claimed how Varoufakis's confrontational approach made him more and more alone with colleagues, endangered the country, and assisted hardliners that were advocating Grexit.
The retelling of history has provoked anger and stunned disbelief in some quarters, while Varoufakis has kept a deafening silence on the matter.
