Within his recently unveiled memoir, titled Ithaki, the former leader Tsipras pulls no punches as he reflects on the turbulent period during Greece's debt drama.
An Unconventional Appointment
As per Tsipras's version, Tsipras appointed that unorthodox academic Varoufakis as his finance minister primarily because of the latter's worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's very persuasive skills when it came to public orator.
“He was, truthfully, more of a personality rather than an economist,” recalled Tsipras.
Conflicting Agendas
Tsipras suggests that his finance chief possessed a personal agenda which included promoting his books as well as testing out his own theories using Greece instead of truly advocating its financial survival.
He wrote that those talks to stave off insolvency were “not just a method of achieving improved terms for the country. They became an experiment, an historic opportunity to prove the truth of his theories.”
Critical Negotiations
During volatile discussions, Greece found itself perilously on the brink of exiting the single currency area.
At stake lay both the country's destiny but also those severe austerity measures required in exchange for financial aid from international creditors.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Attempts to find financing from other sources, such as an urgent appeal to the Kremlin to buy Greek bonds, were rejected.
Assisting Greece would be equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have told Tsipras in Moscow.
Referendum and U-Turn
In July 2015, those punitive bailout terms were put to a public vote, an action which plunged the EU into a deeper crisis of identity.
Although the vote was carried decisively by voters against the cuts, the prime minister had little option but to ignore the result then negotiate a rescue deal from creditors which turned out to be more severe.
Final Straw
The ex-PM claimed that he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.
“He was the face of the talks, the man who attracted publicity, who appeared on the covers of publications the world over … he gave the impression he was enjoying the spotlight.”
When the minister outlined a backup strategy involving establishing a parallel currency as well as distributing coupons to pensioners, the leader said he realised that it was game over and asked him: “Are you serious?”
Enduring Rebuke
In the book, Tsipras asserts how his former ally had proved himself “unsuitable for a deal that required complex and sensitive management.”
Tsipras further claimed that his confrontational style left him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, and assisted hardliners that were advocating Grexit.
The retelling of history has been met with anger and shock among certain groups, whereas the former minister has so far maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.
