Within his freshly published memoir, titled Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras pulls no punches as he examines the turbulent period of Greece's economic turmoil.
An Unconventional Appointment
According to the ex-PM's version, he selected that unorthodox economist Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister primarily due to his worldwide fame along with his “extremely attractive” abilities as a speaker.
“In reality, he was, in reality, more like a celebrity rather than an economist,” wrote the 51-year-old.
Clashing Priorities
Tsipras suggests that Varoufakis had his own motives which involved advancing his books as well as testing out his own economic models using Greece instead of genuinely fighting for the country's financial survival.
Tsipras explained that the talks to stave off insolvency became “not only a way of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were an experiment, a monumental chance to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's theories.”
High-Stakes Negotiations
Amid tense discussions, Greece found itself dangerously close to leaving the eurozone.
On the line was not only the country's future and those harsh austerity measures demanded in return for bailout funds from foreign lenders.
Failed Alternatives
Efforts to find financing from other sources, including an urgent appeal to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.
Assisting the indebted country was equivalent to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader is reputed to have told Tsipras in Moscow.
Referendum and U-Turn
That summer, the excoriating conditions were put to a public vote, an action that threw Europe into a deeper crisis of identity.
Even though the referendum was won decisively by those against the cuts, Tsipras was forced to reject its outcome then agree to a rescue deal with creditors which turned out to be even harsher.
Breaking Point
The ex-PM revealed that he started questioning Varoufakis quite early on.
“He was the face of negotiation, the figure who attracted media attention, who graced the front pages of publications the world over … it seemed he relished his new role.”
When the minister proposed a backup strategy involving creating a parallel currency as well as issuing vouchers to retirees, Tsipras said he realised that it was the end and asked him: “Can you be serious?”
Enduring Rebuke
Within the book, the author asserts how his former ally demonstrated himself “unsuitable for a deal demanding complex and delicate management.”
Tsipras further claimed that his aggressive style made him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while assisted hardliners that were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.
The retelling of history has been met with anger and stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas Varoufakis has so far kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
