When Radical left PM Alexis Tsipras had his ‘Grexit’ bluff called out by Brussels technocrats, then finance minister Yanis Varoufakis blasted Tsipras for his complete capitulation to EU demands.
Varoufakis’ split from Tsipras, and the details behind the schism between the two men, has been a subject of much debate, as the Greek economy continues to falter into greater despair.
Varoufakis is now disclosing some colorful rhetoric that took place in the early days of Tsipras’ presidency, and his quick subjugation to his EU masters during the summer of 2015.
Via Zerohedge…
Remember the Summer of 2015 Greek tragicomedy, when Athens bluffed, then double bluffed it was going to exit the Eurozone only to realize all its deposits are held hostage by the ECB, resulting in “pro-austerity” PM Alexis Tsipras becoming a vassal of Brussels, and firing his firebrand finance minister Yanis Varoufakis who demanded Greece hold until the bitter end?
Well, it now appears that the bad blood between the two is still there because as The Greek Reporter writes this morning, Yanis Varoufakis revealed he accused Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of being “totally stupid” in accepting a demand by Greece’s creditors for big primary surpluses.
Via The Greek Reporter…
Former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis has revealed he accused Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras of being “totally stupid” in accepting a demand by Greece’s creditors for big primary surpluses.
During an interview with Greece’s Parapolitika radio, Varoufakis said when he learned that Tsipras in 2015 accepted, without consulting him, a primary surplus target of 3.5 percent he confronted the premier:
“I told him: ‘Are you totally stupid? What have they given you in return?’ And he replied: ‘Oh, maybe I was stupid. I will retract from the promise’.”
Varoufakis said he actually used a stronger word than “stupid”.
In the same interview, the former finance minister repeated claims that Tsipras did not really want to win in the infamous July 2015 referendum on the bailout.
Varoufakis said he remembered that everyone at the prime minister’s office that evening was sad.
“I do not know when exactly Tsipras decided to capitulate,” he added.
Referring to his successor, Euclid Tsakalotos, he said: “I can no longer recognize him.”
“Euclid became a yes man on July 6 [2015]… Τhe case of Euclid hurts, because I was an eyewitness of his total transformation,” he added.
Varoufakis also confirmed that he still has in his possession recordings of the Eurogroup meetings of the turbulent first half of 2015.
We can only imagine the Greek “M” word that Varoufakis used to describe Tsipras.
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