In a freshly published autobiography, called Ithaki, the former leader Tsipras spares no criticism while he revisits the chaotic period during Greece's economic turmoil.
A Controversial Choice
As per Tsipras's version, Tsipras selected that unorthodox economist Varoufakis as the finance minister primarily due to the latter's global profile along with Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” abilities when it came to communicator.
“In reality, he was, truthfully, more like a celebrity and less of an economic expert,” wrote Tsipras.
Clashing Agendas
Tsipras alleges how Varoufakis had his own agenda which included promoting his books and testing out his own theories on Greece rather than genuinely advocating its financial survival.
He wrote that the negotiations 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 his ideas.”
Critical Negotiations
During volatile discussions, Greece found itself perilously close to leaving the single currency area.
On the line was not only Greece's destiny and the severe cutbacks demanded in exchange for bailout funds from foreign lenders.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Efforts to find financing from other sources, including an urgent appeal to Russia to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.
Helping the indebted country would be equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have informed Tsipras during their meeting.
Referendum and Reversal
In July 2015, the excoriating bailout terms were put to a public vote, a move that plunged the EU into deeper crisis of identity.
Even though the vote was won resoundingly by those against the cuts, Tsipras had little option to ignore the result then negotiate a bailout package with creditors that turned out to be tougher.
Final Straw
Tsipras claimed that he started questioning his finance minister relatively soon.
“He was the public image of negotiation, the man who attracted publicity, who graced the front pages of magazines globally … it seemed he was enjoying his new role.”
When the minister proposed a contingency plan involving creating a secondary currency as well as issuing vouchers to pensioners, Tsipras said he realised it was game over questioning him: “Can you be serious?”
Enduring Criticism
In the memoir, Tsipras asserts that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unfit for an agreement that required complex and sensitive management.”
He further claimed how his aggressive style made him increasingly isolated among peers, endangered the country, while helped hawks that were pushing for Grexit.
This retelling of history has been met with anger and shock among certain groups, whereas the former minister has kept a deafening silence on the matter.
