Former head of the Greek Ministry of Finance: “History will judge Schäuble harshly”

Speaking on Skai TV, Tsakalotos noted numerous contacts with Schauble over the years, emphasizing that, despite the dark moments, history will judge the German statesman harshly.

Death of former German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble at the age of 81 on Tuesday evening forced former Greek Finance Minister Evangelos Tsakalotos to reflect on his time working for the SYRIZA party at the height of Greece’s economic crisis, which nearly led to the country’s expulsion from the eurozone.

Speaking on Skai TV, Tsakalotos admitted that he had communicated with Schäuble for many years, emphasizing that history would judge the German statesman harshly.

“Schäuble was a leader who dominated the Eurogroup for many years. The Eurogroup was his court and he had satellite countries. He had significant influence, but we must be fair and strict, despite the circumstances. History will not judge him positively”, – Tsakalotos noted.

The former Greek finance minister said that Schäuble “wanted a united Europe, a political union, but only for a few countries. He wanted us to leave, and other countries to leave, because his dream was a political union for a few.”

Tsakalotos further opined that Schäuble failed during the crisis to understand that the paradigm had changed, emphasizing that the old policies and ideology were no longer effective and could lead to the destruction of Europe.

“With COVID, we saw how everything changed. The rules and pacts of stability and growth were forgotten.” He believed that the 2009 crisis had changed nothing, believing that only Greece was an exception and should obey the rules. History will be harsh on Schäuble.”says Tsakalotos.

Speaking about Schäuble’s change of position regarding Greece, Tsakalotos noted: “I think at some point he changed his mind about Greece. Merkel (former German chancellor) and Hollande (former French president) put pressure on him, but until the first semester it was like we were almost done.”

Tsakalotos stressed that Schäuble was undoubtedly tough both within the country and towards other member countries EUand he “created inequality, but he was also cunning. Countries withThe German atellites in the Eurogroup played games with him, and he played games with them. He wanted to create an image of an honest politician, but that was not the case.”

The death of Wolfgang Schäuble has caused controversy over his political career and the legacy he left behind. Opinions are divided about his contribution and approach at critical moments in European economic history. At the same time, the Greeks, judging by the comments on social networks, assessed Schäuble’s death in approximately the following words: “Maxim died, well, to hell with him.”

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