In a freshly published autobiography, named Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Tsipras spares no criticism as he revisits the turbulent era during Greece's financial crisis.
A Controversial Appointment
In Tsipras's account, Tsipras appointed that maverick academic Varoufakis to be the finance minister mainly due to his worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's very persuasive abilities as a communicator.
“He was, in reality, more of a celebrity rather than an economist,” recalled Tsipras.
Conflicting Priorities
Tsipras claims how Varoufakis had a personal motives which involved advancing Varoufakis's books and experimenting with his own game theories using Greece instead of truly fighting for the country's financial survival.
He wrote that the discussions to avoid insolvency became “not only a method to secure a better deal for the country. They were a test, an historic chance to prove the truth of Varoufakis's ideas.”
High-Stakes Talks
Amid rollercoaster negotiations, Greece came perilously on the brink of leaving the single currency area.
At stake lay both the country's future but also those harsh austerity measures required in return for bailout funds from international creditors.
Unsuccessful Options
Attempts to secure financing from other sources, including an urgent plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek bonds, went unanswered.
Helping Greece would be equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, the Russian leader is reputed to have informed his Greek counterpart in Moscow.
Public Vote and Reversal
That summer, the excoriating conditions were subjected to a popular referendum, an action that threw the EU into a further existential crisis.
Even though the vote was carried resoundingly by voters against austerity, Tsipras was forced but to ignore the result and agree to a bailout package with creditors which turned out to be even harsher.
Final Straw
The ex-PM revealed that he started questioning his finance minister relatively soon.
“He was the face of negotiation, the figure who attracted publicity, who graced the covers of publications globally … it seemed he relished his new role.”
After the minister outlined a backup strategy that included establishing a secondary currency and distributing coupons to retirees, Tsipras said he realised it was game over and asked him: “Are you serious?”
Lasting Criticism
In the book, the author asserts that his former ally had proved himself to be “unfit for a deal demanding intricate and sensitive handling.”
Tsipras also wrote that his aggressive style left him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, and assisted hardliners that were pushing for Grexit.
The retelling of history has been met with fury along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, while the former minister has so far maintained a deafening silence on the matter.
