Within his recently unveiled autobiography, titled Ithaki, the ex- leader Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism as he examines the chaotic era during Greece's financial crisis.
An Unconventional Choice
According to the ex-PM's account, he appointed the unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be the finance minister mainly because of the latter's worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's highly compelling skills when it came to speaker.
“In reality, he was, actually, more like a celebrity and less of an economic expert,” recalled the 51-year-old.
Clashing Agendas
Tsipras alleges how Varoufakis possessed a personal motives that included advancing Varoufakis's publications as well as testing out his own theories using the nation rather than truly advocating the country's economic stability.
He noted how the negotiations to stave off insolvency were “not just a way of achieving improved terms for Greece. They became an experiment, a monumental opportunity to demonstrate the truth of Varoufakis's theories.”
Critical Talks
During rollercoaster negotiations, the country came dangerously close to leaving the single currency area.
At stake lay not only Greece's future and those severe cutbacks required in exchange for bailout funds from foreign lenders.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Efforts to find financing from other sources, including a desperate appeal to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.
Helping Greece was tantamount to tossing cash in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly informed his Greek counterpart during their meeting.
Public Vote and Reversal
In July 2015, those excoriating bailout terms were put to a public vote, an action that plunged Europe into a deeper existential crisis.
Even though the referendum was won decisively by those against austerity, the prime minister had little option to ignore the result and negotiate a rescue deal from creditors which proved to be more severe.
Final Straw
Tsipras claimed that he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.
“He was the face of negotiation, the figure who drew publicity, who graced the covers of magazines globally … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”
When the minister outlined a backup strategy involving creating a secondary currency as well as issuing coupons to retirees, Tsipras knew it was game over and asked Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”
Enduring Criticism
In the memoir, Tsipras concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unfit for a deal that required intricate and sensitive handling.”
He also wrote how his aggressive approach made him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, and helped hawks that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
This retelling of history has been met with fury along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas the former minister has kept a conspicuous quiet on the matter.
