Ex-PM Tsipras States Varoufakis Proved ‘Inappropriate’ as Greece's Finance Minister During Financial Meltdown

Within his freshly published personal account, named Ithaki, the former premier Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism while he reflects on that turbulent era during Greece's economic turmoil.

An Unconventional Appointment

As per Tsipras's version, Tsipras chose the unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be the finance minister primarily due to the latter's international reputation along with Varoufakis's highly compelling skills when it came to speaker.

“In reality, he was, actually, more of a star and less of an economist,” stated the 51-year-old.

Conflicting Priorities

Tsipras claims that his finance chief had his own motives that included advancing his books and testing out his own game theories on Greece rather than genuinely fighting for its economic stability.

Tsipras wrote how those talks to prevent bankruptcy became “not just a way of achieving a better deal for Greece. They became an experiment, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the truth of his theories.”

Critical Talks

During tense negotiations, the country found itself dangerously on the brink of leaving the eurozone.

On the line lay not only the country's destiny and the severe austerity policies required in exchange for rescue loans from foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Options

Efforts to secure financing from other sources, such as a desperate plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek government bonds, went unanswered.

Helping Greece was equivalent to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly informed Tsipras in Moscow.

Referendum Followed by Reversal

That summer, the excoriating bailout terms were subjected to a popular referendum, an action that threw Europe into a deeper crisis of identity.

Although the referendum was won decisively by voters against austerity, the prime minister had little option to ignore the result then negotiate a rescue deal with foreign lenders which turned out to be tougher.

Breaking Point

The ex-PM revealed how he began to doubt his finance minister quite early on.

“He was the public image of the talks, the figure who attracted media attention, who appeared on the covers of publications globally … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”

After Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan that included establishing a secondary currency and distributing coupons to pensioners, the leader knew it was the end and asked him: “Is this for real?”

Lasting Criticism

In the book, Tsipras concludes how Varoufakis demonstrated himself “unsuitable for a deal demanding complex and delicate handling.”

He further claimed that his aggressive style left him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, and assisted hardliners that were advocating Grexit.

This account of history has provoked anger and stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas Varoufakis has maintained a conspicuous quiet on the matter.