Greek Crisis
Tsipras' triumph vs the impossible task of implementing a program designed to fail – in The Guardian
, 22/09/2015
Alexis Tsipras has snatched resounding victory from the jaws of July’s humiliating surrender to the troika of Greece’s lenders. Defying opposition parties, opinion pollsters and critics within his ranks (including this writer), he held on to government with a reduced, albeit workable, majority. The question is whether he can combine remaining in office with being […]
Paul Krugman on Greece's 3rd MoU: An agreement designed to fail
, 19/09/2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=11&v=aZY-5wp_6IQOn Corbyn, Greece and the UN – Interviewed for RT-tv's UNDERGROUND
, 16/09/2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=1&v=_giZbaZPm94Interview in Corriere Della Sera – 16 SEP 2015
, 16/09/2015
L’ex ministro greco delle Finanze: «Presto ci sarà il lancio ufficiale e una sinistra pan europea capace di offrire una politica alternativa all’austerità» For the Italian version as published in CDS, click here. But beware: The Italian text there is a summary of my answers and, in my view, offers a distorted version of my […]
Britain, Greece & the Struggle for a Decent Future – Emmanuel Centre, London, 14th September 2015
, 15/09/2015
Jump to 1:04:50 for my address
Interviewed, for DW's Conflict Zone, by Tim Sebastian
, 09/09/2015
Click on the picture above to watch the interview
European countries must support the United Nations’ proposals for sovereign debt restructuring! – Open letter to the UN by 19 economists
, 08/09/2015
On September 10, the United Nations General Assembly will vote on nine principles concerning the restructuring of sovereign debts. Abiding by such principles would have avoided the pitfalls of the Greek crisis, in which political representatives gave in to creditor demands despite their lack of economic sense and their disastrous social impact. This public interest […]
On the state of the European Union – Address at the 41st Forum of The European House-Ambrosetti
, 07/09/2015
In a session entitled ‘Old and New Conflicts and Challenges in the EU’, featuring also Peter Sutherland (FT), Mario Monti and Otmar Issing, I used the unwillingness of the Eurogroup, and the troika, even to consider a document prepared by my (then) ministry (entitled “A Policy Framework for Greece’s Fiscal Consolidation, Recover and Growth“) as a […]
On CNBC discussing Greece and Europe – full transcript, 4th September 2015
, 04/09/2015
First on CNBC Interview: Squawk Box Europe Interview Yanis Varoufakis, former Greek Finance Minister Following are excerpts from the unofficial transcript of a First on CNBC interview with Yanis Varoufakis, former Greek Finance Minister, aired on Friday 4th September on Squawk Box Europe. CLICK HERE FOR THE CNBC SITE OR…
Varoufakis on Schäuble – extract from Stephan Lamby's SWR-ADR documentary
, 31/08/2015
Extract from Stephan Lamby’s SWR-ADR documentary Schäuble: Power & Powerlessness in which I discuss our government’s January-June 2015 negotiating experience and aspects of my discussions with Dr Wolfgang Schäuble.
In THE CONVERSATION answering to leading academics
, 27/08/2015
Click here for website of THE CONVERSATION or…
The Spectre of Democracy haunts Europe – in conversation with Phillip Adams, Late Night Live, ABC Radio National 26th Aug 2015
, 27/08/2015
In discussion with Phillip Adams, on my favourite radio program (LNL), on my recent Frangy address/manifesto for a campaign to Democratise the Eurozone as well as, of course, on the forthcoming snap Greek election.
The Greek Plan for Growth & Recovery: Two documents the Ministry of Finance tabled in May and June 2015
, 20/08/2015
Now that Greece’s Third Memorandum of Understanding has passed (see here for my annotated version), after the SYRIZA government surrendered on 12th July 2015, it is perhaps of interest to compare the ‘Reform Agenda’ in that agreement with the agenda the Ministry of Finance had presented to the institutions on two occasions, in May and June […]
Bailout deal allows Greek oligarchs to maintain grip – The Guardian
, 18/08/2015
The Guardian summed up my annotated version of Greece’s Third MoU with this title. Click here for the Guardian’s webpage or read on…
My question to Christine Lagarde, Eurogroup 25th June 2015 – as narrated by Landon Thomas in the NYT
, 17/08/2015
During the 25th June 2015 Eurogroup, the institutions presented me, in the form of an effective utlimatum, with a comprehensive staff level agreement and funding plan (which I considered financially non-viable). It was the deal that Prime Minister Tsipras decided, on the following day, to put to the Greek people in the form of the now […]
Varoufakis and Lamont interviewed on Radio 4 on their peculiar political friendship
, 17/08/2015
Further to this piece on my unlikely friendship with Lord Lamont, the BBC’s Radio 4 interviewed us, together. To hear the interview, on World At One, click on the play button below.
Greece’s Third MoU (Memorandum of Understading) annotated by Yanis Varoufakis
, 17/08/2015
The Third Greek MoU is now enshrined in Greek Law. Written in troika-speak it is almost impossible to decypher by those not speaking this unappetising language. Click here for the complete MoU text annotated liberally by yours truly – in pdf form. It is best read in conjunction with my annotated version of the EuroSummit Agreement […]
Vindicated, while Lagarde emerges a loser? – David Marsh in MarketWatch
, 04/08/2015
In his Monday column on MarketWatch David Marsh entitled his opinion piece: “Varoufakis vidicated, while Lagarde emerges as a loser”. Of course the point is not whether I have, or have not, been vindicated. The crucial issue concerns the viability, or otherwise, of the latest Greek deal. From day 1 I have been arguing that Ms […]
Greek Tragedy – by Christos Tsiolkas (in conversation with Yanis Varoufakis), MONTHLY magazine
, 03/08/2015
Novelist Christos Tsiolkas (The Slap, Baraccuda etc.) wrote this piece (for the Australian magazine MONTHLY) from a Greek-Australian perspective (after the two of us had talked extensively over the telephone). Click on the photo above or…
In conversation with El Pais (Claudi Pérez), the complete (long) transcript
, 02/08/2015
Claudi Pérez, of El Pais, inteviewed me in our Athens apartment last week. Here is the article that emerged recently in El Pais. The complete, unedited, transcript (in English) follows:
Death by Debt: My Response to The German Finance Ministry, by Jeffrey Sachs
, 01/08/2015
Dr. Ludger Schuknecht, senior economist at the Germany Finance Ministry, explains his ministry’s viewpoint regarding Greece. This viewpoint essentially holds that Eurozone countries should live within their means; adjust to their debt burdens; and take their reform medicine as needed. If they do so, they will be successful, as illustrated by Ireland, Spain, and Portugal. Greece […]
Something is rotten in the eurozone kingdom – my op-ed in the Financial Times
, 01/08/2015
Plan would have eased Greece’s chronic liquidity shortage, writes Yanis Varoufakis in the Financial Times. A paradox lurks in the foundations of the eurozone. Governments in the monetary union lack a central bank that has their back, while the central bank lacks a government to support it.
Yanis Varoufakis is being pilloried for doing what had to be done – by Philippe Legrain in The Guardian
, 01/08/2015
For the Guardian site click here. Or…
Will the IMF throw the spanner in the works? – as I feared and Dr Schäuble hoped?
, 30/07/2015
IMF cannot join Greek rescue, board told … reports Peter Spiegel from Brussels in today’s Financial Times. He adds: