In a freshly published personal account, titled Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras spares no criticism while he reflects on the chaotic era during Greece's financial crisis.
An Unconventional Choice
As per Tsipras's version, Tsipras selected the unorthodox academic Varoufakis to be the treasury head mainly due to his worldwide fame along with his highly compelling abilities as a public orator.
“In reality, he was, truthfully, more of a celebrity and less of an economic expert,” wrote Tsipras.
Conflicting Priorities
Tsipras claims that his finance chief possessed his own motives which involved promoting his publications and testing out his game theories on Greece instead of genuinely fighting for the country's economic stability.
Tsipras noted that the talks to avoid bankruptcy were “not just a way of achieving a better deal for the country. They were an experiment, an historic opportunity to prove the truth of his theories.”
Critical Negotiations
Amid rollercoaster discussions, the country came perilously close to exiting the eurozone.
On the line lay not only Greece's destiny but also those punishing cutbacks required in exchange for financial aid by foreign lenders.
Failed Options
Attempts to secure financing elsewhere, including an urgent plea to Russia to buy Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.
Helping the indebted country would be tantamount to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly told Tsipras in Moscow.
Public Vote Followed by Reversal
That summer, the excoriating conditions were put to a public vote, a move which plunged Europe into a further crisis of identity.
Even though the vote was carried resoundingly by voters who opposed austerity, the prime minister was forced to ignore the result and agree to a bailout package with foreign lenders which proved to be tougher.
Final Straw
Tsipras revealed that he began to doubt Varoufakis quite early on.
“Varoufakis was the public image of the talks, the figure who attracted media attention, who graced the covers of magazines globally … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”
After Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan that included creating a parallel currency as well as issuing vouchers to pensioners, Tsipras knew that it was game over questioning Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”
Enduring Rebuke
In the memoir, the author concludes how Varoufakis demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for a deal demanding complex and sensitive handling.”
Tsipras further wrote how Varoufakis's aggressive style left him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while helped hardliners who were pushing for Grexit.
This retelling of history has provoked anger and shock in some quarters, whereas Varoufakis has kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.
