In a freshly published personal account, called Ithaki, the former premier Tsipras does not hold back while he examines the chaotic era during Greece's debt drama.
A Controversial Choice
As per the ex-PM's account, he selected that maverick academic Yanis Varoufakis as the treasury head largely because of his global profile along with Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” skills when it came to speaker.
“In reality, he was, truthfully, more like a personality and less of an economist,” recalled Tsipras.
Conflicting Priorities
The former leader alleges how Varoufakis possessed his own motives which included promoting his publications as well as experimenting with his game theories on the nation rather than truly advocating its financial survival.
He wrote that those negotiations to prevent insolvency were “not just a method of achieving improved terms for Greece. They were an experiment, an historic chance to demonstrate the truth of his theories.”
Critical Negotiations
Amid tense negotiations, the country came perilously close to exiting the single currency area.
At stake was both the country's destiny but also those punishing austerity policies required in exchange for bailout funds from international creditors.
Failed Options
Attempts to find financing from other sources, such as an urgent plea to Russia to buy Greek bonds, were rejected.
Assisting Greece would be tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have told Tsipras in Moscow.
Referendum and Reversal
In July 2015, the excoriating conditions were subjected to a public vote, a move that plunged Europe into a further crisis of identity.
Even though the vote was carried decisively by those who opposed austerity, the prime minister had little option to ignore the result and agree to a rescue deal from creditors which proved to be tougher.
Final Straw
The ex-PM revealed that he began to doubt his finance minister quite early on.
“He was the face of negotiation, the figure who drew media attention, who appeared on the covers of publications the world over … he gave the impression he was enjoying the spotlight.”
After the minister proposed a contingency plan that included establishing a secondary currency as well as distributing vouchers to pensioners, the leader said he realised that it was the end and asked him: “Is this for real?”
Lasting Criticism
Within the book, the author asserts that Varoufakis demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for a deal demanding complex and sensitive handling.”
Tsipras also wrote how his confrontational approach made him increasingly isolated among peers, put Greece at risk, while assisted hardliners that were pushing for Grexit.
This retelling of events has provoked fury and stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas the former minister has maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.
