🔗 Share this article Former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras Asserts Yanis Varoufakis Was ‘Unfit’ as Greek Treasury Chief Amid Financial Meltdown Within his recently unveiled memoir, titled Ithaki, the former premier Alexis Tsipras does not hold back while he examines that turbulent period during Greece's financial crisis. An Unconventional Choice As per Tsipras's version, Tsipras appointed that unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis as his finance minister mainly due to his worldwide fame and his “extremely attractive” abilities when it came to public orator. “In reality, he was, truthfully, more like a personality rather than an economic expert,” wrote the 51-year-old. Clashing Priorities The former leader claims how his finance chief possessed his own motives which included promoting Varoufakis's publications and testing out his game theories using the nation rather than genuinely fighting for the country's economic stability. Tsipras explained how the discussions to stave off bankruptcy became “not just a method to secure improved terms for Greece. They became a test, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the validity of his theories.” High-Stakes Talks Amid tense negotiations, Greece came dangerously on the brink of exiting the eurozone. At stake lay not only the country's future and those harsh austerity measures demanded in exchange for rescue loans by foreign lenders. Failed Options Efforts to secure funds elsewhere, such as a desperate plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, were rejected. Helping Greece was tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, the Russian leader reportedly told Tsipras during their meeting. Public Vote Followed by Reversal That summer, the harsh bailout terms were put to a public vote, an action that plunged the EU into deeper existential crisis. Even though the vote was carried decisively by those who opposed the cuts, the prime minister was forced to reject its outcome then negotiate a rescue deal with creditors which turned out to be tougher. Breaking Point The ex-PM revealed that he began to doubt Varoufakis quite early on. “He was the public image of the talks, the figure who drew media attention, who graced the front pages of publications globally … he gave the impression he was enjoying his new role.” When the minister outlined a contingency plan involving establishing a parallel currency as well as distributing vouchers to pensioners, Tsipras knew that it was the end questioning Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?” Lasting Criticism In the book, the author concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement that required intricate and delicate management.” Tsipras further claimed that his aggressive style made him increasingly isolated with colleagues, endangered the country, while assisted hardliners that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro. The retelling of events has provoked fury and shock among certain groups, whereas Varoufakis has kept a deafening silence on the matter.