Within his freshly published personal account, titled Ithaki, the former leader Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism while he revisits the chaotic era of Greece's debt drama.
An Unconventional Appointment
As per the ex-PM's version, Tsipras chose that maverick economist Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister mainly because of the latter's worldwide fame and Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” skills as a speaker.
“In reality, he was, in reality, more like a star and less of an economic expert,” recalled Tsipras.
Conflicting Priorities
The former leader alleges that Varoufakis had a personal motives which included promoting his books as well as testing out his theories on the nation rather than genuinely advocating its financial survival.
Tsipras explained that those discussions to prevent bankruptcy were “not just a method of achieving a better deal for Greece. They became a test, an historic opportunity to prove the truth of his ideas.”
High-Stakes Talks
During rollercoaster discussions, the country came dangerously close to exiting the single currency area.
On the line lay not only Greece's destiny and those severe austerity measures demanded in exchange for bailout funds from foreign lenders.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Efforts to secure financing from other sources, such as an urgent plea to Russia to purchase Greek government bonds, went unanswered.
Helping Greece was tantamount to tossing cash in the trash-can, Putin reportedly told his Greek counterpart during their meeting.
Referendum and Reversal
In July 2015, those harsh bailout terms were subjected to a public vote, an action that plunged the EU into further crisis of identity.
Even though the vote was carried resoundingly by voters who opposed austerity, the prime minister had little option but to ignore the result and negotiate a bailout package from creditors that turned out to be even harsher.
Final Straw
The ex-PM revealed that he began to doubt his finance minister quite early on.
“He was the face of negotiation, the figure who drew media attention, who graced the covers of magazines the world over … he gave the impression he relished the spotlight.”
After Varoufakis outlined a backup strategy that included establishing a secondary currency and issuing coupons to pensioners, the leader knew it was the end questioning him: “Are you serious?”
Lasting Rebuke
Within the book, the author asserts how his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unfit for an agreement that required intricate and delicate handling.”
He further claimed how his aggressive style made him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, and assisted hawks that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
This retelling of history has been met with fury along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, while the former minister has kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.
