Within his recently unveiled autobiography, called Ithaki, the ex- leader Alexis Tsipras does not hold back as he examines the turbulent period during Greece's financial crisis.
An Unconventional Appointment
In Tsipras's version, Tsipras chose the unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be the finance minister primarily due to his global profile along with his very persuasive abilities as a public orator.
“He was, truthfully, more of a star rather than an economic expert,” stated the 51-year-old.
Clashing Agendas
Tsipras suggests how his finance chief possessed his own motives that involved advancing his books and testing out his own economic models on the nation instead of truly fighting for the country's financial survival.
Tsipras explained that those talks to prevent bankruptcy were “not only a way of achieving improved terms for the country. They were a test, a monumental chance to prove the truth of his ideas.”
High-Stakes Negotiations
Amid volatile discussions, the country found itself perilously on the brink of leaving the single currency area.
On the line lay both the country's future but also the harsh austerity measures required in return for financial aid by foreign lenders.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Efforts to secure funds from other sources, including a desperate plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek government bonds, went unanswered.
Helping the indebted country was tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, the Russian leader reportedly told his Greek counterpart during their meeting.
Public Vote and U-Turn
In July 2015, those excoriating conditions were put to a public vote, an action which threw the EU into a deeper existential crisis.
Although the vote was won decisively by those who opposed the cuts, the prime minister was forced to reject its outcome then agree to a bailout package with creditors that turned out to be even harsher.
Final Straw
The ex-PM claimed that he started questioning Varoufakis relatively soon.
“He was the public image of the talks, the man who drew publicity, who graced the front pages of magazines the world over … it seemed he was enjoying his new role.”
After the minister proposed a backup strategy involving establishing a secondary currency and issuing coupons to pensioners, Tsipras knew it was the end questioning Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”
Lasting Rebuke
In the book, Tsipras asserts that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unfit for an agreement that required complex and sensitive management.”
Tsipras further wrote how Varoufakis's aggressive approach made him increasingly isolated among peers, put Greece at risk, while assisted hardliners who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.
The account of history has been met with fury and stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas the former minister has kept a deafening silence on the matter.
