Within his freshly published personal account, named Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras spares no criticism while he examines the turbulent era during Greece's financial crisis.
An Unconventional Choice
As per the ex-PM's version, Tsipras chose that maverick academic Yanis Varoufakis as the treasury head mainly because of his global profile and his highly compelling abilities as a communicator.
“He was, actually, more of a personality and less of an economist,” stated the 51-year-old.
Clashing Agendas
Tsipras alleges how his finance chief had a personal motives that involved promoting his books and testing out his economic models using Greece rather than genuinely fighting for its financial survival.
Tsipras explained how the talks to stave off bankruptcy were “not only a method to secure a better deal for Greece. They were a test, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the truth of his ideas.”
Critical Negotiations
Amid volatile negotiations, Greece found itself perilously close to leaving the eurozone.
On the line was not only the country's future but also those harsh austerity policies demanded in return for financial aid by foreign lenders.
Unsuccessful Options
Efforts to secure funds elsewhere, such as a desperate plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.
Assisting the indebted country would be tantamount to throwing money into the garbage, Putin reportedly told Tsipras in Moscow.
Referendum and U-Turn
That summer, the excoriating bailout terms were subjected to a popular referendum, a move that threw Europe into further crisis of identity.
Even though the referendum was won decisively by voters who opposed the cuts, Tsipras had little option to reject its outcome then negotiate a bailout package from creditors which turned out to be more severe.
Final Straw
Tsipras revealed how he started questioning his finance minister quite early on.
“He was the face of negotiation, the figure who drew media attention, who graced the front pages of magazines the world over … he gave the impression he relished his new role.”
When the minister outlined a backup strategy involving establishing a secondary currency as well as issuing vouchers to pensioners, the leader knew it was game over questioning him: “Can you be serious?”
Enduring Rebuke
In the book, Tsipras asserts how his former ally had proved himself to be “unfit for an agreement that required intricate and sensitive handling.”
He further wrote how Varoufakis's aggressive approach made him more and more alone with colleagues, endangered the country, while helped hawks that were advocating Grexit.
This retelling of events has provoked fury and shock among certain groups, whereas Varoufakis has so far kept a deafening silence on the matter.
