In a freshly published memoir, named Ithaki, the ex- leader Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism as he examines the turbulent era of Greece's financial crisis.
An Unconventional Choice
According to the ex-PM's version, he chose the maverick academic Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister mainly because of the latter's global profile along with Varoufakis's highly compelling abilities as a communicator.
“In reality, he was, actually, more like a celebrity rather than an economic expert,” recalled Tsipras.
Clashing Priorities
Tsipras claims that Varoufakis possessed a personal motives which involved advancing his books and experimenting with his own theories using Greece instead of truly fighting for its financial survival.
Tsipras explained that the negotiations to avoid insolvency were “not just a way of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were a test, a monumental opportunity to prove the validity of his theories.”
Critical Talks
During rollercoaster discussions, the country found itself perilously close to exiting the single currency area.
At stake was not only Greece's future but also the punishing cutbacks demanded in exchange for rescue loans from international creditors.
Failed Alternatives
Attempts to secure funds elsewhere, including a desperate appeal to the Kremlin to buy Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.
Helping Greece was equivalent to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader is reputed to have told Tsipras in Moscow.
Public Vote and Reversal
That summer, those harsh bailout terms were put to a public vote, a move which plunged Europe into further existential crisis.
Even though the vote was won resoundingly by voters who opposed the cuts, Tsipras was forced to ignore the result then agree to a rescue deal from foreign lenders that proved to be tougher.
Breaking Point
Tsipras claimed how he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.
“He was the face of the talks, the man who attracted media attention, who appeared on the covers of magazines globally … it seemed he was enjoying his new role.”
When the minister proposed a contingency plan involving establishing a parallel currency and issuing vouchers to retirees, the leader knew it was game over questioning Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”
Enduring Criticism
In the book, the author asserts how his former ally had proved himself “unfit for an agreement demanding intricate and sensitive management.”
He further wrote how his confrontational approach made him more and more alone with colleagues, endangered the country, while helped hawks that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
The retelling of events has provoked anger and stunned disbelief in some quarters, while Varoufakis has so far kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.
