Within his recently unveiled personal account, called Ithaki, the former premier Tsipras does not hold back while he reflects on the turbulent period of Greece's debt drama.
A Controversial Choice
In Tsipras's recollections, he appointed the unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister mainly due to the latter's international reputation and his highly compelling abilities when it came to communicator.
“In reality, he was, truthfully, more of a star and less of an economist,” wrote Tsipras.
Conflicting Priorities
The former leader claims how Varoufakis had a personal motives which involved promoting Varoufakis's publications as well as testing out his game theories on Greece rather than truly fighting for its financial survival.
He noted how the negotiations to avoid insolvency became “not just a way of achieving improved terms for Greece. They were an experiment, a monumental chance to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's ideas.”
Critical Talks
During tense negotiations, the country came perilously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.
On the line lay both the country's destiny and those severe austerity measures required in exchange for rescue loans by foreign lenders.
Failed Options
Efforts to find financing from other sources, such as a desperate appeal to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.
Assisting Greece would be tantamount to throwing money into the garbage, the Russian leader reportedly told Tsipras in Moscow.
Referendum Followed by U-Turn
That summer, the punitive conditions were subjected to a public vote, a move that threw Europe into a further crisis of identity.
Although the vote was carried resoundingly by those against austerity, the prime minister had little option but to reject its outcome then agree to a bailout package from creditors that proved to be more severe.
Final Straw
The ex-PM revealed how he started questioning Varoufakis quite early on.
“He was the public image of the talks, the man who attracted media attention, who appeared on the covers of publications globally … it seemed he was enjoying his new role.”
After the minister outlined a backup strategy that included establishing a secondary currency and distributing coupons to retirees, the leader knew that it was the end and asked him: “Is this for real?”
Enduring Rebuke
In the book, the author concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unfit for an agreement that required intricate and sensitive management.”
Tsipras also claimed that his aggressive style made him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, and assisted hawks who were advocating Grexit.
This retelling of events has been met with anger and shock among certain groups, while the former minister has kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
