Within his newly released personal account, named Ithaki, the former prime minister Tsipras pulls no punches as he examines that turbulent period during Greece's economic turmoil.
An Unconventional Appointment
As per Tsipras's account, Tsipras chose that unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis as his finance minister primarily because of his international reputation along with his “extremely attractive” skills as a speaker.
“He was, in reality, more of a personality rather than an economist,” stated the 51-year-old.
Conflicting Agendas
The former leader claims how his finance chief possessed a personal motives that involved promoting Varoufakis's publications and testing out his own game theories on Greece rather than genuinely fighting for its economic stability.
Tsipras explained how the negotiations to stave off insolvency became “not only a method of achieving improved terms for the country. They were a test, a monumental chance to prove the truth of his economic theories.”
High-Stakes Talks
Amid volatile negotiations, the country found itself perilously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.
On the line lay not only the country's future but also those punishing cutbacks required in exchange for financial aid from foreign lenders.
Unsuccessful Options
Efforts to find funds from other sources, including an urgent plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.
Assisting Greece would be equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin reportedly informed his Greek counterpart during their meeting.
Referendum Followed by U-Turn
That summer, those excoriating bailout terms were subjected to a public vote, an action that threw the EU into further crisis of identity.
Even though the vote was won resoundingly by voters against the cuts, Tsipras was forced but to reject its outcome and negotiate a bailout package with creditors which turned out to be even harsher.
Breaking Point
The ex-PM revealed that he started questioning his finance minister quite early on.
“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the man who drew publicity, who graced the covers of magazines globally … he gave the impression he relished the spotlight.”
When the minister proposed a backup strategy involving establishing a parallel currency and issuing vouchers to retirees, the leader knew that it was the end questioning him: “Are you serious?”
Enduring Rebuke
Within the book, the author asserts that his former ally had proved himself to be “unfit for an agreement demanding intricate and sensitive management.”
He further wrote that his confrontational approach left him increasingly isolated with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while helped hawks that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
The account of events has been met with anger along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas the former minister has maintained a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
