In a freshly published personal account, called Ithaki, the former leader Tsipras spares no criticism while he revisits the chaotic period during Greece's debt drama.
An Unconventional Appointment
In the ex-PM's version, he appointed that unorthodox academic Varoufakis as the finance minister largely because of the latter's international reputation along with Varoufakis's highly compelling skills when it came to communicator.
“In reality, he was, actually, more of a personality rather than an economic expert,” recalled the 51-year-old.
Clashing Priorities
The former leader claims that Varoufakis possessed a personal motives which involved promoting Varoufakis's publications and testing out his theories on the nation instead of truly fighting for its economic stability.
He noted that those talks to stave off bankruptcy were “not only a way of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were an experiment, an historic chance to prove the validity of Varoufakis's economic theories.”
High-Stakes Negotiations
Amid rollercoaster negotiations, Greece found itself perilously close to exiting the eurozone.
At stake lay not only the country's future but also those harsh cutbacks demanded in exchange for financial aid from international creditors.
Failed Alternatives
Attempts to find funds from other sources, including a desperate appeal to Russia to purchase Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.
Assisting Greece was tantamount to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly informed his Greek counterpart during their meeting.
Referendum and Reversal
That summer, those punitive bailout terms were subjected to a public vote, a move that plunged Europe into deeper crisis of identity.
Even though the referendum was won decisively by voters against austerity, the prime minister was forced to reject its outcome and negotiate a rescue deal with creditors that proved to be tougher.
Final Straw
The ex-PM revealed that he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.
“He was the face of the talks, the figure who drew publicity, who appeared on the front pages of magazines the world over … he gave the impression he was enjoying his new role.”
When the minister proposed a contingency plan involving establishing a parallel currency as well as distributing coupons to retirees, Tsipras knew that it was game over and asked him: “Are you serious?”
Enduring Criticism
Within the memoir, the author asserts how Varoufakis had proved himself to be “unsuitable for a deal demanding complex and sensitive management.”
Tsipras also wrote that Varoufakis's confrontational approach made him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, and assisted hardliners who were pushing for Grexit.
This account of events has provoked anger and stunned disbelief in some quarters, while the former minister has so far maintained a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
