Within his freshly published memoir, titled Ithaki, the former premier Tsipras does not hold back while he examines that chaotic era of Greece's debt drama.
An Unconventional Choice
As per Tsipras's version, Tsipras appointed the maverick academic Yanis Varoufakis to be the treasury head mainly because of his international reputation along with Varoufakis's very persuasive abilities as a communicator.
“He was, actually, more like a star rather than an economic expert,” stated the 51-year-old.
Clashing Priorities
Tsipras suggests how Varoufakis had his own motives that included promoting Varoufakis's publications as well as testing out his own theories using Greece rather than truly fighting for its economic stability.
Tsipras noted how those talks to avoid bankruptcy became “not only a way to secure a better deal for Greece. They became a test, an historic chance to prove the truth of Varoufakis's ideas.”
Critical Negotiations
Amid tense discussions, the country found itself perilously close to leaving the eurozone.
On the line lay both the country's destiny but also those punishing austerity policies required in exchange for rescue loans by international creditors.
Failed Options
Efforts to secure funds elsewhere, including an urgent plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.
Assisting Greece was equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart during their meeting.
Referendum and U-Turn
That summer, those excoriating bailout terms were put to a public vote, a move which threw the EU into deeper existential crisis.
Although the vote was carried decisively by voters who opposed austerity, the prime minister had little option to ignore the result and agree to a bailout package from foreign lenders that proved to be even harsher.
Final Straw
Tsipras claimed that he began to doubt his finance minister quite early on.
“Varoufakis was the face of negotiation, the man who attracted media attention, who graced the front pages of publications globally … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”
When Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan involving creating a parallel currency as well as distributing vouchers to retirees, the leader knew it was the end questioning him: “Can you be serious?”
Lasting Rebuke
In the book, the author asserts that Varoufakis had proved himself to be “unfit for a deal demanding complex and delicate handling.”
Tsipras also wrote how his confrontational approach left him increasingly isolated among peers, put Greece at risk, while assisted hawks who were pushing for Grexit.
This retelling of events has provoked anger along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas the former minister has maintained a conspicuous quiet on the matter.
