Within his freshly published autobiography, titled Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras pulls no punches while he reflects on the turbulent period of Greece's economic turmoil.
An Unconventional Choice
According to the ex-PM's version, Tsipras chose that maverick economist Yanis Varoufakis as the finance minister primarily due to the latter's global profile and his “extremely attractive” abilities as a speaker.
“He was, actually, more of a star and less of an economic expert,” stated Tsipras.
Conflicting Agendas
Tsipras alleges how Varoufakis possessed his own agenda which involved promoting his publications as well as experimenting with his economic models using Greece rather than genuinely fighting for its financial survival.
He noted that the talks to prevent insolvency were “not only a way of achieving a better deal for the country. They became a test, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's theories.”
High-Stakes Talks
During rollercoaster discussions, Greece came perilously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.
At stake was both the country's destiny and those punishing austerity measures demanded in return for financial aid from international creditors.
Failed Alternatives
Efforts to secure funds elsewhere, such as a desperate plea to Russia to buy Greek bonds, went unanswered.
Helping the indebted country would be tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin reportedly informed his Greek counterpart in Moscow.
Referendum and U-Turn
In July 2015, those harsh bailout terms were put to a public vote, a move that plunged Europe into further existential crisis.
Even though the referendum was carried resoundingly by voters who opposed the cuts, Tsipras had little option but to ignore the result then agree to a bailout package with creditors which proved to be more severe.
Final Straw
Tsipras revealed that he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.
“Varoufakis was the public image of the talks, the man who attracted media attention, who appeared on the front pages of publications globally … it seemed he relished his new role.”
After Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan that included creating a secondary currency as well as issuing coupons to retirees, the leader knew 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 “unsuitable for a deal that required complex and sensitive management.”
Tsipras further claimed that Varoufakis's confrontational style left him increasingly isolated with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while helped hawks that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.
This retelling of events has been met with anger along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas Varoufakis has kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.
