In a freshly published autobiography, called Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras does not hold back while he revisits the turbulent era during Greece's economic turmoil.
An Unconventional Appointment
In Tsipras's recollections, Tsipras appointed the maverick academic Varoufakis to be his finance minister mainly due to the latter's international reputation along with Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” skills when it came to communicator.
“In reality, he was, truthfully, more like a star and less of an economic expert,” stated the 51-year-old.
Clashing Priorities
Tsipras claims that his finance chief had his own agenda which involved promoting Varoufakis's books and testing out his own game theories on Greece instead of genuinely advocating the country's economic stability.
He noted that those negotiations to stave off bankruptcy became “not only a way to secure improved terms for Greece. They were a test, an historic chance to demonstrate the truth of Varoufakis's ideas.”
High-Stakes Talks
Amid tense discussions, Greece came dangerously close to exiting the single currency area.
On the line lay both Greece's future but also those punishing cutbacks required in return for bailout funds by foreign lenders.
Failed Alternatives
Efforts to find funds from other sources, including an urgent appeal to the Kremlin to buy Greek bonds, went unanswered.
Assisting Greece was equivalent to throwing money in the trash-can, Putin reportedly told Tsipras in Moscow.
Referendum and Reversal
That summer, those excoriating conditions were subjected to a popular referendum, a move which threw the EU into further existential crisis.
Although the vote was carried decisively by voters against the cuts, the prime minister had little option to reject its outcome and negotiate a rescue deal from foreign lenders that proved to be even harsher.
Final Straw
The ex-PM claimed that he started questioning Varoufakis relatively soon.
“He was the face of the talks, the figure who drew media attention, who appeared on the covers of magazines globally … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”
When Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan that included creating a secondary currency as well as distributing coupons to pensioners, Tsipras said he realised it was game over questioning him: “Are you serious?”
Enduring Rebuke
Within the book, the author concludes that his former ally had proved himself “unsuitable for an agreement that required complex and delicate management.”
He further claimed that Varoufakis's aggressive style made him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, and assisted hawks that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
The retelling of events has been met with anger and stunned disbelief among certain groups, while Varoufakis has so far kept a deafening silence on the matter.
