Within his freshly published personal account, named Ithaki, the former prime minister Alexis Tsipras does not hold back as he reflects on the chaotic period during Greece's economic turmoil.
An Unconventional Appointment
As per Tsipras's version, Tsipras appointed that maverick economist Yanis Varoufakis to be the treasury head primarily because of his international reputation along with his highly compelling abilities as a public orator.
“In reality, he was, truthfully, more of a celebrity and less of an economist,” recalled Tsipras.
Clashing Agendas
The former leader alleges that his finance chief possessed his own motives which included promoting his books as well as testing out his own game theories using the nation rather than truly fighting for its economic stability.
He noted how those negotiations to avoid bankruptcy became “not only a method of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were a test, a monumental opportunity to prove the validity of Varoufakis's theories.”
Critical Negotiations
During tense discussions, Greece found itself perilously close to leaving the eurozone.
At stake lay both Greece's future and the punishing austerity measures required in return for bailout funds from foreign lenders.
Failed Alternatives
Efforts to find funds from other sources, such as a desperate plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek government bonds, were rejected.
Assisting Greece would be tantamount to tossing cash in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly told Tsipras in Moscow.
Public Vote and Reversal
That summer, the punitive conditions were subjected to a popular referendum, an action which threw the EU into further crisis of identity.
Although the referendum was won decisively by those against austerity, the prime minister had little option to ignore the result and negotiate a rescue deal with foreign lenders which turned out to be even harsher.
Final Straw
Tsipras revealed how he began to doubt Varoufakis quite early on.
“He was the face of the talks, the man who drew media attention, who graced the covers of publications globally … he gave the impression he was enjoying the spotlight.”
When Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan that included creating a parallel currency as well as distributing coupons to retirees, Tsipras said he realised it was game over questioning Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”
Enduring Criticism
In the book, the author asserts that his former ally had proved himself to be “unfit for a deal demanding intricate and delicate handling.”
He further claimed how his aggressive approach made him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while assisted hawks who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.
The account of history has provoked anger along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, while Varoufakis has so far kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
