In a newly released autobiography, called Ithaki, the former leader Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism while he reflects on that chaotic era of Greece's economic turmoil.
An Unconventional Choice
In the ex-PM's account, he selected the maverick academic Varoufakis to be his finance minister primarily due to the latter's worldwide fame along with his highly compelling abilities when it came to public orator.
“In reality, he was, actually, more of a celebrity and less of an economist,” wrote the 51-year-old.
Conflicting Agendas
The former leader alleges how his finance chief had a personal agenda which involved advancing Varoufakis's publications and testing out his own game theories using Greece rather than genuinely fighting for its economic stability.
Tsipras wrote how the negotiations to avoid insolvency were “not only a method of achieving improved terms for the country. They were a test, an historic chance to prove the validity of his economic theories.”
Critical Talks
During volatile negotiations, Greece came perilously close to exiting the eurozone.
At stake was both the country's destiny but also those harsh cutbacks required in return for bailout funds by international creditors.
Unsuccessful Options
Efforts to secure funds from other sources, including a desperate plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek government bonds, were rejected.
Assisting Greece would be tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, the Russian leader is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.
Referendum Followed by U-Turn
That summer, the punitive conditions were subjected to a popular referendum, a move which threw Europe into a further crisis of identity.
Although the vote was won resoundingly by voters against austerity, the prime minister was forced to ignore the result and agree to a rescue deal from foreign lenders which turned out to be more severe.
Final Straw
Tsipras claimed how he began to doubt his finance minister quite early on.
“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the man who attracted media attention, who appeared on the covers of publications globally … he gave the impression he was enjoying the spotlight.”
When Varoufakis proposed a backup strategy that included creating a secondary currency as well as distributing vouchers to pensioners, Tsipras said he realised that it was the end questioning Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”
Enduring Criticism
Within the book, Tsipras asserts how his former ally had proved himself to be “unfit for a deal demanding complex and delicate management.”
He also wrote that his aggressive approach left him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, while assisted hardliners that were pushing for Grexit.
The retelling of history has been met with anger along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, while the former minister has kept a conspicuous quiet on the matter.
