Within his freshly published memoir, named Ithaki, the former prime minister Tsipras spares no criticism while he examines the turbulent period during Greece's debt drama.
An Unconventional Appointment
According to the ex-PM's version, he chose the unorthodox economist Varoufakis as the treasury head mainly due to his worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's very persuasive skills as a public orator.
“He was, truthfully, more of a star rather than an economist,” recalled the 51-year-old.
Clashing Priorities
Tsipras suggests that Varoufakis possessed his own agenda which involved advancing his books and experimenting with his theories on Greece rather than genuinely advocating the country's economic stability.
Tsipras explained that the negotiations to stave off bankruptcy were “not just a way to secure improved terms for the country. They were a test, an historic chance to prove the truth of Varoufakis's ideas.”
High-Stakes Talks
Amid tense negotiations, the country found itself dangerously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.
At stake was not only Greece's future and the harsh austerity measures demanded in return for bailout funds from foreign lenders.
Failed Alternatives
Attempts to secure funds elsewhere, including a desperate plea to Russia to purchase Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.
Assisting the indebted country would be tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, the Russian leader reportedly informed his Greek counterpart in Moscow.
Referendum Followed by U-Turn
That summer, the punitive conditions were subjected to a public vote, an action that plunged Europe into a further crisis of identity.
Even though the vote was won decisively by voters against austerity, the prime minister had little option but to ignore the result and agree to a bailout package from creditors which turned out to be even harsher.
Final Straw
Tsipras claimed how he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.
“He was the face of negotiation, the figure who attracted publicity, who graced the front pages of publications the world over … it seemed he relished his new role.”
When the minister outlined a contingency plan that included establishing a secondary currency as well as distributing coupons to retirees, Tsipras knew it was the end questioning him: “Is this for real?”
Enduring Criticism
In the memoir, the author concludes how his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for a deal that required intricate and delicate handling.”
Tsipras also claimed that his aggressive style left him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, while helped hardliners who were advocating Grexit.
This account of history has provoked fury and shock among certain groups, while the former minister has kept a deafening silence on the matter.
