Within his freshly published memoir, titled Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Tsipras spares no criticism as he examines the turbulent period during Greece's financial crisis.
An Unconventional Choice
As per the ex-PM's account, Tsipras selected that unorthodox economist Varoufakis as the treasury head mainly because of the latter's worldwide fame and his very persuasive skills when it came to speaker.
“In reality, he was, truthfully, more like a celebrity rather than an economic expert,” stated the 51-year-old.
Clashing Agendas
Tsipras alleges how his finance chief had his own agenda that involved promoting his books as well as testing out his own economic models on Greece rather than genuinely advocating the country's economic stability.
Tsipras wrote that those negotiations to stave off bankruptcy became “not only a method to secure a better deal for the country. They became a test, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the truth of Varoufakis's economic theories.”
Critical Talks
During volatile negotiations, Greece came perilously close to leaving the single currency area.
At stake was not only the country's destiny but also the harsh austerity measures required in return for bailout funds by foreign lenders.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Attempts to secure funds from other sources, including a desperate plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.
Assisting the indebted country would be equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, Putin reportedly informed his Greek counterpart in Moscow.
Public Vote and Reversal
That summer, those excoriating conditions were put to a public vote, an action which plunged the EU into a deeper existential crisis.
Even though the vote was carried decisively by voters who opposed the cuts, Tsipras was forced but to ignore the result and negotiate a rescue deal from creditors that proved to be more severe.
Final Straw
The ex-PM claimed that he started questioning Varoufakis relatively soon.
“He was the face of the talks, the figure who attracted media attention, who graced the front pages of magazines the world over … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”
When Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan that included establishing a parallel currency and issuing coupons to retirees, the leader said he realised that it was game over and asked him: “Are you serious?”
Enduring Criticism
Within the book, Tsipras concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unfit for a deal that required intricate and sensitive handling.”
He also claimed that Varoufakis's aggressive style left him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, and assisted hardliners who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
This retelling of history has provoked anger and shock among certain groups, whereas Varoufakis has so far maintained a deafening silence on the matter.
