In a recently unveiled personal account, named Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras does not hold back while he revisits the turbulent era of Greece's economic turmoil.
An Unconventional Choice
As per Tsipras's account, Tsipras selected that maverick economist Varoufakis as his treasury head mainly because of the latter's international reputation and his very persuasive skills when it came to speaker.
“In reality, he was, truthfully, more like a personality and less of an economist,” recalled the 51-year-old.
Clashing Priorities
Tsipras claims how his finance chief had a personal agenda which involved promoting Varoufakis's publications as well as testing out his game theories on Greece instead of genuinely advocating the country's economic stability.
Tsipras wrote how the talks to prevent bankruptcy became “not just a way to secure improved terms for Greece. They became a test, a monumental chance to prove the validity of Varoufakis's economic theories.”
Critical Negotiations
Amid volatile discussions, the country came perilously close to leaving the single currency area.
On the line was both Greece's destiny and those harsh austerity measures demanded in return for financial aid from foreign lenders.
Failed Options
Attempts to find funds elsewhere, including a desperate plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, were rejected.
Helping Greece would be equivalent to throwing money in the trash-can, Putin reportedly told Tsipras in Moscow.
Referendum and Reversal
In July 2015, the harsh bailout terms were put to a popular referendum, an action that threw the EU into deeper existential crisis.
Although the vote was won resoundingly by those against the cuts, the prime minister was forced but to reject its outcome and negotiate a rescue deal with foreign lenders that proved to be tougher.
Final Straw
The ex-PM revealed that he started questioning Varoufakis quite early on.
“Varoufakis was the public image of the talks, the figure who drew publicity, who graced the covers of publications the world over … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”
When the minister outlined a backup strategy involving creating a parallel currency and issuing vouchers to pensioners, the leader knew it was the end questioning him: “Is this for real?”
Lasting Rebuke
Within the memoir, Tsipras concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unfit for a deal that required intricate and sensitive handling.”
Tsipras also claimed how Varoufakis's aggressive approach left him increasingly isolated among peers, put Greece at risk, while helped hardliners who were pushing for Grexit.
The account of history has provoked anger along with shock in some quarters, whereas the former minister has kept a conspicuous quiet on the matter.
