Within his newly released memoir, called Ithaki, the ex- premier Tsipras spares no criticism as he examines the chaotic period during Greece's economic turmoil.
A Controversial Appointment
In Tsipras's account, he chose the unorthodox economist Varoufakis as the treasury head mainly due to his international reputation and Varoufakis's highly compelling skills when it came to public orator.
“He was, truthfully, more of a star and less of an economist,” stated Tsipras.
Conflicting Agendas
Tsipras claims how his finance chief possessed his own agenda which involved promoting Varoufakis's books and testing out his economic models on Greece instead of genuinely advocating its economic stability.
Tsipras wrote how the talks to prevent bankruptcy were “not just a method of achieving a better deal for the country. They were a test, an historic chance to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's ideas.”
Critical Negotiations
Amid rollercoaster negotiations, the country found itself perilously close to exiting the eurozone.
At stake lay both Greece's future but also those severe cutbacks demanded in exchange for financial aid by international creditors.
Unsuccessful Alternatives
Attempts to secure financing elsewhere, including an urgent plea to Russia to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.
Assisting Greece would be equivalent to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader is reputed to have told Tsipras during their meeting.
Referendum Followed by U-Turn
That summer, the punitive conditions were subjected to a public vote, a move which threw Europe into a further crisis of identity.
Even though the vote was won resoundingly by voters who opposed the cuts, the prime minister was forced to reject its outcome then negotiate a rescue deal from foreign lenders which proved to be more severe.
Final Straw
The ex-PM claimed that he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.
“He was the public image of negotiation, the man who drew media attention, who appeared on the covers of magazines globally … he gave the impression he was enjoying his new role.”
When the minister proposed a contingency plan that included creating a secondary currency as well as distributing vouchers to pensioners, the leader knew that it was game over questioning him: “Is this for real?”
Enduring Criticism
In the memoir, Tsipras concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself “unsuitable for an agreement demanding intricate and sensitive handling.”
He also wrote that his aggressive style made him increasingly isolated with colleagues, put Greece at risk, and assisted hardliners that were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.
This account of history has provoked fury and stunned disbelief in some quarters, while Varoufakis has kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.
