On BBC tv NEWSNIGHT

English European Crisis Finance Minister FinMin2015 Greek Crisis Interviews Media Uncategorized Video 23821 Views 131 comments 31/01/2015

As a fan of the BBC, I must say I was appalled by the depths of inaccuracy in the reporting underpinning this interview (not to mention the presenter’s considerable rudeness). Still, and despite the cold wind on that balcony, it was fun!

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131 Comments

  • The Greek people should unite in order to unite the Europe.
    Patience and courage

  • Rather depressing how far the BBC have fallen, the interviewer seemed unable to accept any more nuanced answer than “yes” or “no”, desperately trying to push the pre-agreed view that this was kind of a nutty extremist person. You did an amazing job in trying to create a more constructive dialogue. Hopefully enough of the viewers were able to go past her tone and framing to actually listen and hear the truth.

  • Jeremy Paxman (as you may know) made confrontational interviewing the stuff of many a politician’s nightmare, when he was at the “Newsnight” helm. Emily Maitlis is rather following in his footsteps. Rude? Possibly. But modern media is enthralled by soundbite, rather than explanation, to its detriment.

    Arm yourself with pithy comments as well as spreadsheets!

  • in addition, the art student level graphics at the beginning of the BBC piece were appalling.

  • That was indeed pretty terrible reporting and rudeness, kudos for keeping your cool.

  • Well done, Yanis.
    It’s not familiar for us to see a Greek Minister defending the truth and the simplicity.
    In Greece and, I’m afraid around the western world, there is a lack of rasionalism.

  • Janis: Congrats on your attempt to rein in that BBC interviewer — my, isn’t she convinced, without prior discussion with you, of your intent, motivation, and strategies — and so she considers it a foregone conclusion — that whatever the EU has proclaimed as policy, is not up for discussion or evaluation. (BTW, I’ll be 89 in April, was in WW2, and I’ve got a perspective on what the West has come to.) In closing, we wish you well, because if the West (and the East) is to be “saved from itself” — it’s people like you who will be instrumental in that salvation.

    Bill

  • Rude interviewer, I agree. I am reading now a lot of what you have written and following what is published in the quality press. It is a process of learning. I certainly share great sympathy with the Greek people in this crisis. The terms and implementation of the bail-out were far too harsh and self-defeating.

  • So proud of Yanis Varoufakis!Bravo!That s an example of greek bravery for Europe and the world!keep up with the good work! Do not lose your good temper! Everybody is admiring our goverment even the opponents!! Greece negotiating for the first time in the last years! BRAVO!!!! A real government for the greeks!

  • Very interesting interview.
    The lead up was incendiary – none of the events pictured took place during the election and none that I know of were policy of the new government. The lead up was intended to suggest that one partner in these talks was a group of anarchists and unruly street demonstrators.
    The interview itself – the questions asked – were all loaded to elicit incendiary replies – replies that were not forthcoming.
    One small quibble – don’t let her get you down. Insist on finishing an answer but don’t say she is cutting you off rudely – that is obvious and your mentioning it only suggests you are short tempered. (I suspect you are in fact short of sleep and running on nerves at this point in time!)
    Again, well done. In spite of her attempt to fan the flames – to suggest Greece was now being governed by anarchists, unlike the rest of Europe – you made it clear that Greece is a beacon to the 99% in Europe.
    On her aggressive interview style.
    We have a small conflict of interest here in Canada related to a very prominent TV personality who happens to have a romantic attachment to a member of the board of one of our main banks. I wonder if the presenter has any such conflict on interest – some relationship – perhaps as little as she socializes with a class of people, with a group – which will be adversely affected by the type of solutions that Greece needs to solve its problems. She certainly attacked like she had a very personal stake in the issue.

  • I agree.Basic lack of good manners but more important a lack of good reporting.I am afraid Newsnight has gone downhill at increasing speed recently.Given these limitations I was very impressed at how you made your case. I hope your countrymen give you room to sort out the mess as i am confident you can..May your God go with you.

  • Rude reporter indeed, but in the end I sympathised her: she was not expecting that kind of response!

  • You coped well, Yani. The BBC reports on all economic issues (and especially the UK economy) are catastrophically bad. Their economics editors are buffoons, and just full of themselves while talking shit. The Newsnight journalist who interviewed you is extremely irritating in all of her interviews, usually with the same incompetent and disrespectful techniques. One of them, which inclines me to throw a brick at the TV, is to persistently interrupt with the expression “OK”, uttered in such a manner as to indicate contempt (implying, for example, “you’re lying”, or “that’s not interesting”, or “shut up and answer my stupid yes or no question”). Of course, the main problem is that she is none too bright.

    I think you got your message across, despite the low level that the BBC operates at. You did not need to show respect to the BBC, because few Brits now have any. Only Channel 4 has any credibility, but even they make terrible errors of judgement and have few viewers. My view is that all of Europe is preoccupied with its own self-importance, preservation of one’s own personal career at the expense of truth or others’ legitimate concerns, and making monumental errors of judgement which then have to be covered up. It is Thatcher’s individualistic neoliberalism that has taken root and badly damaged European societies — to the point of serious illness comparable with psychosis and delusion. It is not only the politicians and bankers that we are all fighting: it extends to the mass media, businesses, schools and universities, etc etc. We are really entering a very bad period of history — with potentially very serious consequences. The eurozone crisis is arguably just one symptom of an underlying structural disease that extends way beyond mere economics.

  • Quite rude indeed… And each time a question was not answered the way she wanted, she was jumping on another one in an attempt to corner you. I don’t understand though why BBC showed such hostility.. Sad..

  • i think there is a big cultural difference between northern europeans and balkanian countries in the understanding of the concept of debt. But that would mean that greece is not of the west and is incompatible as a society with an EU consisting of countries that detest getting into external debt. In the end if all the debt is forgiven it is not victimless, it would mean that a dutch or a slovak would lose part of their pension or their state debt would rise.

  • I wish you and the rest of us ,Greeks, the best of luck in negotiations. Remember, we are people, not numbers.

  • I will write this in English, since the blog is in English. I didn’t vote for your party. At the time of the election, I chose a different one. I didn’t believe that your policies and programmes, as said at the Thessaloniki convention, could possibly do anything. However, all the members of this new government have shown respect to the mandate of the people of Greece and you look hard-working and very much closer to people than other governments were. Surely you have my attention and gained my trust. Don’t let them bring you down. Keep on your hard work. And ,of course, keep on blogging to inform us because the media will always misinterpret your words. You have no allies on the media but you have us. Very well played today. Thank you.

  • You are surprised? When the entire Europe said that Greece will be out of the EU and obviously from the Euro Zone in just few months or weeks? Do you read the Financial Times, the New York Times, Le Figaro, Le Point, Frankfürter Allgemeine Zeitung or Neues Züricher Zeitung or even El País from Madrid? I bet that you read just what you want to read and nothing else. All Europe knows that Greece is in the hands of a New Marxist government, what do you expect that Europeans, Americans and the entire world will do? Please don’t be so naive, and put your feet on the soil. You won the elections, that’s all right, but Greeks will pay a high price for their mistakes, as Venezuelan did and still are doing and Argentineans are in the same hell as well.

  • Υαni you all truly and sincerely have my full support – however nobody said it’ll be easy and i’m sure that we (the ideologically united people across Europe) can take it. As to the BBC it does not surprise me at all – same old during the Iraq war and the Gaza attacks: manipulation in order to form public opinion.

  • Indeed its the first time to hearing a political part, a politician to speak professionally the foreign languange. And he does not feel obliged to follow the strategic path of the questioner reporter ! And he has the courage to be opposed & to feel proud that he is Helladitis / Grecian with our disadvantages of our Nation. Mr Varoufakis according to my believes, I think, due to the fact that he stayed a long time in other European Countries, he fully understands that Grecians are like kids that they entered to European Community without being mature to understand the consiquences…Grecians are not nayve!! ..but previous politicians – not all of them – handle their votes with scope only for the benefit of politicians to give them more time to be in the Parliament ! They neglet the voters, they promised to give them more provisions than the economic situation could afford in the international Balance Sheet.When they got loans as Greek Goverment from other European Community Parts, no one has the courage to say that there will be a dum day that the creditor that loans to debtor shall request with the hardest way s as Mnimonias to get their money back, with high penalties as well as interests.. Is like a child that if mother feeds it all the time, he will never understand how to be an adult. THE POINT IS AS MATURITY OF THE GRECIANS AND FOR THE MATURITY OF THE POLITICIANS IS TO MAKE GREEKS HOW TO PREPARE THE INOVATIONS OF PRODUCTIVITY…Not to buy a new big big house or a new brand car for making a showup to your around people…BUT IN ORDER TO RECYCLE THE CASH FLOW, TO MAKE THE BASIS TO FOLLOW UP THE MIDDLE CLASS LIQUITISATION. The borse of the purchase can not be increased or recycled only by getting loans..The loans is for expanding [with clever and not to much, each for the time being] your SA, your Ltd. etc.THEREFORE,WHAT MR.VAROUFAKIS, ACCORDING TO ME WANTS TO DECLARE TO OUR PARTNERS THAT WE NEED TO SHOW US THE PATH AS PARTNERS NOT A PART AS THE low cheap partners ! BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ONLY IN ACCUSED POSITION, THEY ARE TOO, AS WHEN YOU MAKE THIS AGREEMENT, BOTH PARTIES HAVE TO CHECK…more in the times that thinks look to be well….[if they were be given faulty numbers]..I DO NOT THINK THAT THE OTHERS WERE NOT CLEVER ENOUGH TO CHECK US BEFORE…Of course Greeks have make mistakes but they are bravehearts to arise their mind as partners and negotiate … We are not beglars but we are European citizens as God makes the Europe according to Geografical position.

  • It seems that the forces of hard powers in Europe want to make very clear that your attempt to change the narrative will not be accepted. It is too dangerous for them. Is it inaccuracy or, as you said in your answers, a symptom too, what we saw here?

  • Reblogged this on My World, Your World, One World and commented:
    Go Greece Go. And I agree with what Varoufakis tried to say about the rudeness and reductionist thinking of the presenter. When will people learn to listen? I was impressed by Varoufakis’ capacity to reply intelligently to the aggression.

  • Επιτέλους η Ελλάδα ορθώνει ανάστημα (σε σωστή βάση). Συγχαρητήρια υπουργέ!!!

  • Wow… Phenomenally rude. Well Done Yani in calling her out, albeit in a gentlemanly manner.

  • You did very well, Yanis! Bravo! You made news today, especially at the press conference. That was the clearest public message so far from the SYRIZA government. Such a clear message was badly needed both at home and abroad. You are restoring the dignity of the Greek people. Dignity is not just a word. It’s an asset even in the economic sense and I am sure you are well aware of that. Without dignity, confidence and inspiration, our people will become a non-entity. Don’t worry about the journalists. You can change them. You look great without a tie. I like your shirts too. Just stay the way you are and keep up the good work. You have the admiration and love of many people both in Greece and the whole world.

  • Agree. It was a terribly superficial intro to the situation and the interviewer was confrontational ( as they like to be) But you did a great job of putting forward your points and rebuffing her ( politely). In other words, you kept your cool. Hang on to that cos its going to get uglier. 😉

  • Privatisation can take place in many forms. Leasing is one of them. All that is needed is a credible chartered surveyor and a good business plan, in order for the two parties [investor and business/property owner] to start making money. Can’t see why this cant happen with all these valuable assets Greece has got.

  • Φαίνεται οτι με όλα αυτά τα αρπακτικά από πάνω μας, ίσως είναι σκόπιμο σε ορισμένες συνεντεύξεις να πρέπει να μιλάτε την αγγλική, ώστε να δώσετε εσείς ο ίδιος το μηνυμα στους ξένους, όπως εσείς ακριβώς θέλετε να το δώσετε. Επίσης, καθοριστικό ρόλο θα παίξουν οι εν εξουσία ξένοι που συμμερίζονται τις απόψεις περί ευρωπαϊκής αναδιάρθρωσης. Στη συντηρητική Ευρώπη του σήμερα, όλα αυτά ακούγονται στα αυτιά τους πολύ ριζοσπαστικά και γι αυτό “μαζεύονται”. Πιστεύω οτι πρέπει να βρούμε δυνατούς “φίλους” πριν κανουμε ένα βήμα παραπέρα. Όσο παράξενο κι αν ακούγεται, η ΕΚΤ ισως να μπορούσε να παίξει αυτό το ρόλο…

  • I have been reading your site for years, but do not usually comment. I could not help myself, however, after I saw this video. You made that reporter look absolutely stupid. Bravo sou!

  • She was rude, repeatedly so. She asked one leading question after another — trying to put words in Yanis’s mouth while planting “There Is No Alternative” religion in the minds of BBC viewers. After all, you wouldn’t want the people of Great Britain to ever understand this crisis ( that’s 5 years old and years in the making), or that John Maynard Keynes ideas really work. No, you wouldn’t want the public to realize that there actually are solutions to these serious problems and that these serious (and dangerous) problems are the result of bad policy choices to begin with and need not have happened in the first place.

  • Love it. The sudden limelight must be quite stressful for you, Yanis, but you do seem to have the substance of what statesmen are made. And, sadly enough Europe has been lacking in statesmen in our day. Keep it up, please!

  • Dr. Varoufakis,
    I thought your Interviewer was clearly biased and desperately tried “get you” Nonetheless, you stood your ground and in the end she was frustrated. Two thumps up for you!! However, as I am sure you know how it all plays …the heartbreakers gonna break it, and the fakers gonna fake it.. and you did your part you stood up for what you believe, which is immensely admirable!!! Paul Krugman, whom i am sure you know of, wrote a recent article in the NY times and among other things he said ” there are going to be plenty of people to tell you otherwise” If i may.. Please don’t let them! Peace!!

  • Great interview Yanis. We have the same problem in the US as you had with the BBC program and host. They are often inaccurate and rude! Keep pushing your message out in the public’s mind. Eventually, it will resonate. Good luck, and keep fighting the good fight! The implications of even your slightest victory will have implications the world over.

  • The rudeness of a journalist could perhaps be forgiven for it is sometimes part of the job, but I must say I’m ashamed by the behavior of “my” minister of finances, J Dijsselbloem, yesterday at the introductory meeting.

  • WOW…the beast is sharpening its tooth…
    You did a great job both in explaining our position as a country-member of EU and in exposing the obviously intentional rudeness of BBC hostess.
    Stay firm dear Mr Varoufakis, we understand that this is just the start of a tough negotiation and the other side is not used in comfrontation but rather in delivering orders. I am sure that as we speak they are trying to find good way to an agreement witch will make them look like the winners.
    In any case thats why we vote for you here in Greece, to fight for an exit from this madness.
    All our good thoughts are with you

  • yeah, this is systematic….BBC twisting words and notions….and yes she is rude!

  • The gargantuan task you have taken upon your shoulders, I presume, is to try to save an economy, a country, even perhaps a continent and probably even lives, in the final analysis. This pompous, arrogant and rude (and I might add annoying), woman’s goal seems to be to turn this “interview” into a series of sound bites. I, for one, wanted to hear what your strategies are and why and found It hard to hear above all her background prattle.

  • Great interview, wish they would provide you with more time to explain your views which are so much more mainstream and constructive than most media let on.

  • To me, this interview looks like the delivery of a baby human. [The baby human being, in this instance,] a [refreshing] point that is being made across to the world, overcoming messy obstacles and yet being brought to life as a mighty coherence — in spite of vulnerable appearances. (I’m also jealous of the interviewer’s position, a position utterly misspent.)

  • I must say this BBC reporter was unbelievably rude! Yanis, you exercised quite a bit of control, I would have blasted her and walked off. I’m glad you’re striking a more moderate message than your colleagues. The NYT interview was excellent:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/30/business/international/greeces-feisty-finance-minister-tries-a-more-moderate-message.html

    You might very well be the voice of reason at Syriza, but I fear you will have a monumental task of negotiating better terms for Greece and get the leaders of the eurozone to finally address growth through Pan-European measures.

  • Dear Yanis,
    today, you made the vast majority of Greeks very proud.
    I wish you and the new government the best of luck.
    Give ‘ em hell.
    Dimitrios

  • ΓΙΑ ΣΟΥ ΓΙΑΝΗ ΜΗΝ ΥΠΟΧΩΡΗΣΗΣ ΔΕΝ ΥΠΑΡΧΗ ΑΛΛΟΣ ΔΡΟΜΟΣ . ΣΙΓΑ ΑΛΛΑ ΣΙΓΟΥΡΑ

  • Some very smart answers to some very stupid questions. The inaccuracy of the report is simply incredible: the German stock market would have crashed if you had refused to deal with the Troika.

    I’m very interested in learning more about your economic program. I’m an American and I’ve searched online for information about your economic program, but much of the information seems suspect. One website I readtoday reported the government intends to nationalize the banks. The banks aren’t insolvent, so my assumption is that this is propaganda.

    I’m very interested in learning if Greece will enter into an economic alliance with China and Russia, or if your membership in the EU precludes this. China’s Silk Road project will extend to Greece, and this will undoubtedly foster significant economic growth, although I imagine this will take some time complete. China has recently funded construction of a highway from Budapest through Serbia to Greece, which would facilitate expanded trade. An economic partnership with Russia also would be advantageous. Greece could earn lucrative profits from Gazprom by transiting natural gas from Turkey. Russia also would have a renewed interest in acquiring rights to Greece’s offshore oil and gas fields. Greece would unquestionably be caught in the crossfire, however. The EU exerted pressure on Hungary to stop the construction of the South Stream pipeline at the direction of the Obama administration, and the same pressure would undoubtedly be applied to Greece.

    I sincerely hope for economic justice for the Greek people, and I hope you’ll be successful in your efforts to revitalize Greece.

  • Dear Yanis, Firstly, congratulations on dealing with the ignorance and rudeness so smoothly; as a Brit, I find I am increasingly embarrassed by the tone of many of our media people, with this being close to as bad as it gets.
    Secondly, of course any thinking person would agree that how the negotiations with any creditors – and, importantly, new investors, are handled is not going to be announced over the airwaves to an incompetent reporter.
    I am sure you are getting far more valuable advice than from me, but I would like to just suggest a few points, if I may which I think may assist in the tone of the discussions ahead:
    1/. If the urgency of loan payments in a few weeks is not lifted, one option is for Greece to just refuse to make any payment. Then it will be up to the 27 to decide whether they want to have a combined view as to how to deal with this. I would expect this to require unanimity to bring about decisive action – and as with virtually every other matter in the EU, that is almost impossible. So, the position may continue for many months, until a final agreement is reached, with no funds being paid by repayment.
    2/. The question of new loans being advanced may be different, but that may not be an issue, if there are no loan repayments. A movement to improve tax collection dramatically, i.e. from those with the greatest wealth who owe the vast majority, may help a lot – without hurting the poor. (I do have a special interest in suggesting an early consideration of real time VAT being made, as this can not only lower the high gap in settlement,. but also create the reports for personal, business and wealth tax data.)
    3/. I am surprised that even more thoughtful journals, such as the Economist and the FT, have not highlighted the potential for bringing in investors from external of Europe, who may find the important geographic area of Greece to be very attractive for expansion of trade – and possibly for naval and military sites. For example, China is busy building two-way trade links, including the usage of shipping routes at which Greece has so much experience and facilities; what more natural an alliance could be considered?
    4/. But if that was on the table, I would expect some rather rapid back-tracking by the EU and, probably, USA. Indeed, if i were either a western banker (looking at the risk of loan default by Greece, with fresh money available from elsewhere) or connected with NATO, looking at the strategic hole created in its defenses, I think I would be changing my tune and recommendations to the EU rather quickly!
    Finally, I would suggest an early consideration of having electronic payments readily at hand, so there is no delay in support being immediately available for the poor and for business in the case of either withdrawal from the Euro, or its collapse, or cancellation of all debt (including all personal debt in euros on mortgages etc.)
    Sorry this is long; and yet so minimal in explanation.I would love to followup with you if you or your team have time.
    Regards, Chris

  • Well said Yanni. You are doing the heavy lifting for the Europeans hurt by the crisis. Hopefully others will follow. While all this goes on it would be key to ensure the Greek economy runs smoothly without much noise. There was a lot of noise in the first few days.

    The Dutch economics minister that you met today is the person responsible for the haircut of the Cypriot bank deposits. He along with the German minister responsible for haircutting the Greek bonds are not true Europeans. One wonders why other countries in Europe do not see this clearly. These two guys are ok with 25% unemployment in the south as long as it is 5% at their home. Why would an Italian buy a German car or Dutch insurance if these countries elect such people in government.

  • Yanis, well done!
    I am fully confident that every logical person in this planet will back you up soon. Please.. don’t let anyone dilute your dream!
    I will be here to support you.

  • I think you’re doing great so far Yanis. Even if the press can sometimes behave this way in your interviews I think they’re worth doing. Almost everyone who watches will come away knowing you’re the reasonable one, especially if you can maintain a sense of equanimity in the face of it, and each time this happens it will work to shift public support a bit more to the right policy.

    Keep at it and good luck!

  • Mr. Varoufakis,

    Indeed, it is appalled to see her constantly interrupting you. But, what is more appall is that you explain to all your position for a whole day (and for a few years now) and they do not get it.

    When I talk to some of my friends I usually use this simple example:

    if the international banking cartel lends $20 government/society (or $20 trillion – the math doesn’t change) @ 5% interest, in one year government/society owes the private international banking cartel $21 due to double entry bookkeeping adjustments that add $1 interest liability to government/society and $1 interest asset to the international banking cartel (to add to their $20 “bond” – oh, the laughs must be good at the oligarch parties… “bonds” tying down society in Gulliver the Bankster’s Travels).

    How can a $21 debt be paid when the borrower only has $20 and the lender possesses the only $1 available to pay back the debt (and they are not giving that $1 back, they are busy swindling the chumptocracy out of the original $20, too!).

    Oh, and a “bailout” is when the $20 is created and stuffed in an international banking cartel corporate “front pocket” and society is sent the $21 bill EVEN THOUGH THEY DIDN’T RECEIVE THE $20 PROCEEDS FROM THE DEBT.

    I know, this is sooooooo simple the mind is repelled…hopefully they will get it!

    I know you thinking in academic terms…but you can still use numbers in their simple form for simple minds.

    Truly, I am not expecting or suggesting you to use it; I am just laughing at what levels you have to drop in order to make yourself understood by those who have been conditioned to see things with blinders.

    It was a great day for you!

    .Keep up the good work!

  • Thanks for being so classy, on point, and assertive despite her absolute rudeness.

  • Dear Professor Varoufakis,

    Thank you for standing up for common sense, intellectual rigor, basic decency, self respect, genuine solidarity, and democracy .

    Thank your for standing against sophistry, ignorance, incivility, self-important arrogance, Hobbesian discord, and plutocracy.

    I’m sure you that you know that more is forthcoming from the likes of that BBC “journalist” who just “interviewed” you.

    I only hope that you guys survive long enough to restore real democracy to Greece (and by example and material interest to Europe and America). I don’t want to contemplate the alternatives..

    Bernard Smith

  • I agree with you. She was rude. This woman was trying to get answers of yes or no on complex issues. Unless she got a yes or no, it didn’t matter what your respond was. This is just confrontational journalism. It seems like most of world’s journalist today think that using Fox news report approach (attack your guest until you get host’s answer not guest’s answer) is the only way. At least 20 yrs ago, some journalists realized that there might be two sides to one story.Most current media outlets are not interested in having a discussion just quick answers to a lot of disjointed questions.

    When reading current media reports about Greece you can tell they are built around immediate confrontation between Greece and Euro zone austerity policies. Its almost like hearing some parent talking to a child (listen you better obey me or else). The journalists seem to be taking austerity’s position instead of looking at whole Greece problem and what are other possible solutions.

    You made a very good point when she asked about getting extension of more credit for Greece when you gave her a simple story of someone out of work and deeply in debt. Should that person take a credit card offer and accumulate more debt when he/she doesn’t have an income to pay it back. All she wanted was she or no.

  • First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. – Mahatma Gandhi

    PS: Wishing you every success… and sorry about the BBC, they’re not what they used to be.

  • Yes, I was deeply interested to hear what you had to say as many people in the UK are, but BBC Newsnight misrepresented you, rudely interrupted, bombarded you with questions designed to steer you away from stating your position and drove me to your blog because the BBC showed itself to be politically biased. Anyway, I’m glad I came here!

  • Unfortunately this is the world we live in, people’s attention is a commodity and the media in the wrong hands is monopolising and cunningly misguiding away from the reality.

  • As in the ‘United’ States, the ‘media’ is wanting/requiring/demanding a ‘quick ANSWER’ or ‘solution’ to a difficult (for lack of a ‘better’ word – in any language, Greek, English, German – ) ISSUE!! The new Greek Finance Minister, Mr. Vanoufakis is not falling into this media ‘trap’, since he is attempting as is SYRIZA, to initiate a ‘dialogue’, a ‘deliberation’, a new attitude towards which the monetary system and its cohorts enunciate ‘rules’ whereby the investment and investing process in whatever ‘economies’ they choose to act become the alleged ‘beneficiaries’ of that investing, AS LONG AS THE INVESTING PROCESS AND ITS INVESTORS ‘CALL THE SHOTS’ and more importantly ‘WRITE THE RULES’ of remittance.
    This issue, the process of ‘repayment’ of monies, from debtors to creditors, IS the primary issue of what has transpired since the 2008 “Great Recession”. In the nations and cultures of the Judaeo-Christian rubric which have derived their principles of existence and action in the last two-plus millennia, this is a demonstrable challenge to their continued justification to act as the thrust for progress in the beginning of a ‘third millennium’. If this ISSUE of ‘repayment’, which has justified the process of ‘international’ relations, and ‘repayment of monies’ is not challenged, deliberated, and ultimately CHANGED!!, the prospects of the 21st Century of the C.E. will in the minds of those more ‘able’ than ourselves continue to the ultimate source of dissension, war, and conflicts more evil than the last two hundred years. Think about this for those who wish to generate an existence of a human community of equality in economic existence and tolerance among us all in a totality of being on this planet we call ‘Earth’,

  • Wow, that was another prime example for how far european media have strayed from the path of journalism and turned into propaganda outlets for the neoliberal elites. You, Sir, have a backbone of steel and I sincerely hope that you can remain steadfast against this shitstorm of ignorance and ideology.
    Yesterday after the meeting with Djisselbloem, some major german newspaper described you as a quick-tempered choleric, implying that you literally threw the troika representatives out of the country. Had they taken one minute of their precious time to watch this interview, or any of your interviews – as would have befitted proper journalists – the could have easily avoided such misconceptions.
    Or maybe their trust in democracy has already eroded so far into outright cynicism that they simply cannot believe that a democratically elected government is actually trying to make good on its campaign promises and act in the interest of voters instead of grovelling at the feet of the money elite. I can hardly believe it myself.
    Please keep on doing what you do!

  • I think you should look at yourself and your aggresive communication style before you jugde a respected institution and call them “rude”. At the end its all about trust and understanding. And we European people don’t trust you, you will sacrifice the economic welfare of the greek people for your own goals, if you carry on with your rudeness against the troika. You are not in the position to be agressive. The EU will pull the plug and Greece will become a third world country without finances. It is a matter of trust and respect to pay back the money you have borrowed – the money small European taxpayers have saved to help Greece people. If you don’t pack back you are like a liar and a thief – thats how the European people will think about you! And they won’t trust you and the poor greek will suffer!

  • Wow! You held your ground very well, Sir, in the face of an exceptionally rude interviewer. Keep pounding the same simple truths, as you have: especially, that this is not just about Greece but about the whole of Europe. Unfortunately, you will be ‘filtered’ by hostile media everywhere, so to get through to the average European voter you must stay on-message, in words of not too many syllables. You’ll get exhausted with these people, but you will prevail! God bless you for what you are doing for all our sakes. This is a very dangerous time. I think Merkel & Co are sleepwalking into a revival of fascism – she may have excellent survival instincts, know how to temporise and change course according to political currents, but she completely lacks a long term strategy. She is not the leader Germany and Europe needs.

  • It’s diffficult to justify the behaviour of a publicly funded media like the BBC, which seeks to make ‘news’ (regardless of its veracity). However, the internet has been a game-changer seeking fast answers for immediate public consumption. I thought that you made the best (in fact better than most) of a bad situation.

  • I am appalled but not the least surprised! You are now being treated as a politician, not an academic. The main stream media has an agenda – that is nothing new – and that is detected in the host’s tone, choice of questions, interview style and of course the distortion of truth. I was reminded of Christianne Amanpour interviewing Tsipras following the elections a couple of years ago. I am not referring to Tsipras’ command of English, of corse, but to Amanpour’s interview style where they ask you a barrage of leading question which serve their agenda. Unfortunately, in this fashion, the reporter manufactures news with the politician present. There’s got to be a way to deal with this. I know it is not your style, and you have to be true to yourself, but if you get long-winded in your answers and plow through the host’s attempt whenever they itry to nterrupt you, you will eat up their airtime while you end up answering no more than two questions. Then agaiin… who asked for my advice? I’m simply appalled and dismayed!

  • yes sadly you are going to be subject to lots of these tactics but it’s a measure of how well you are actually doing. Everyone I know is behind you. See it for the farce it is, Chomsky style and best of luck. You can outsmart them !!

  • Yanis,
    We need a PR person for English speaking TV in order to defend ourselves against the dominant vitriolic narrative designed to poison the audience’s mind.
    Euclid never belonged in the jungle of the Greek Parliament but is TAILOR MADE to fight all the noise makers on CNN FOX BBC.
    We may also need a media studies expert to prep our party in general—If the White House has one; why don’t we? And I know the right person. Keep up the good work Me Minister

  • I did just see you in the BBC news. The icy body language clip between you and your Dutch counterpart was absolutely the best, and I do agree with you that BBC’s interviewer was somewhat rude. I also agree with you that everybody seems mixing diseases symptoms and possible cure.

    In my thinking you have a golden opportunity to create something new and historically remarkably out of this Greece mess. If this crisis, in what your fellow Greeks has paid a huge price, would do any good – the monetary economies system needs to come up with alternatives because the current model is broken.

    Finally would like to say to you Mr. Varoufakis, is not anti European fascists etc. what you want to put to end, it is the aggressive monetary stimulus model of money duping into eurozone banking system what needs to be fixed. That stimulus model have tendency to only benefit multinational enterprise and the few who controls those, and while those are multinationals – theses have no particular reasons to keep their operations in the eurozone.

    Hopefully you would find time to read what I wrote begging of the week in LinkedIn about the last mentioned. You would like it. Here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/post-democratic-europe-where-1-control-most-assets-greek-bj%C3%B6rn-hammar?trk=object-title

    Note: The reader must have a LinkedIn connection to accesses the analysis of: “Post democratic Europe where 1% will control most of the assets and Greek elections”

    Kindly,

    Mr. Hammar

  • In my experience, I have watched many times BBC reporters been rude in their own special -want to believe for themselves: “English way”- and do like to “form” i.e. in this case deform, public opinion.

  • Πρώτη φορά στα 31 μου ειμαι περήφανη για κάποιον που με εκπροσωπεί.
    Πρώτη φορά έχω ελπίδα ότι κάποιος προσπαθεί να αλλάξει τα πράγματα προς την σωστή κατεύθυνση.
    Η πίεση που δέχεστε κ θα δεχτείτε ειναι τεράστια.
    Σας εύχομαι καλή δύναμη για να συνεχίσετε.
    Οι σκεπτόμενοι Έλληνες ειναι μαζί σας κ γεμίζουν με περηφάνια σε κάθε σας κίνηση.

    Από τον πρόλογο του βιβλίου του Ν.Καζαντζάκη, “Αναφορά στον Γκρέκο”

    Σήκωσα τα μάτια, σε κοίταξα. Εκαμα να σου πω:

    «Παππού, αλήθεια δεν υπάρχει σωτηρία;» μα η γλώσσα μου είχε κολλήσει στο λαρύγγι μου, έκαμα να σε ζυγώσω, μα τα γόνατά μου λύγισαν.

    Άπλωσες τότε το χέρι, σαν να πνίγουμουν κι ήθελες να με σώσεις.

    Αρπάχτηκα με λαχτάρα από το χέρι σου, πασαλειμμένο ήταν με πολύχρωμες μπογιές, θαρρείς ζωγράφιζε ακόμα, έκαιγε. Άγγιξα το χέρι σου, πήρα φόρα και δύναμη, μπόρεσα να μιλήσω:

    -Παππού αγαπημένε, είπα, δώσ’μου μια προσταγή.

    Χαμογέλασε, απίθωσε το χέρι απάνω στο κεφάλι μου, δεν ήταν χέρι, ήταν πολύχρωμη φωτιά, ως τις ρίζες του μυαλού μου περεχύθηκε η φλόγα.

    -Φτάσε όπου μπορείς, παιδί μου…

    Η φωνή του βαθιά, σκοτεινή, σαν να’βγαινε από το βαθύ λαρύγγι της γης.

    Έφτασε ως τις ρίζες του μυαλού μου η φωνή του, μα η καρδιά μου δεν τινάχτηκε.

    -Παππού, φώναξα τώρα πιο δυνατά, δώσ’μου μια πιο δύσκολη, πιο κρητικιά προσταγή.

    Κι ολομεμιάς, ως να το πω, μια φλόγα σούριξε ξεσκίζοντας τον αέρα, αφανίστηκε από τα μάτια μου ο αδάμαστος πρόγονος με τις περιπλεμένες θυμαρόριζες στα μαλλιά του κι απόμεινε στην κορφή του Σινά μια φωνή όρθια, γεμάτη προσταγή, κι ο αέρας έτρεμε:

    -Φτάσε όπου δεν μπορείς!

    Πετάχτηκα τρομαγμένος από τον ύπνο, είχε πια ξημερώσει. Σηκώθηκα, ζύγωσα στο παράθυρο, βγήκα στο μπαλκόνι με την καρπισμένη κληματαριά. Η βροχή είχε τώρα κοπάσει, έλαμπαν οι πέτρες, γελούσαν, τα φύλλα των δέντρων ήταν φορτωμένα δάκρυα.

    -Φτάσε όπου δεν μπορείς!

    Ήταν η φωνή σου, κανένας άλλος στον κόσμο δεν μπορούσε έναν τέτοιο αρσενικό λόγο να ξεστομίσει, μονάχα εσύ, Παππού ανεχόρταγε! Δεν είσαι εσύ ο αρχηγός ο απροσκύνητος, ο ανέλπιδος, της στρατευόμενης γενιάς μου; Δεν είμαστε εμείς οι λαβωμένοι, οι πεινασμένοι, οι μπουμπουνοκέφαλοι, οι σιδεροκέφαλοι, που αφήσαμε πίσω μας την καλοπέραση και τη βεβαιότητα και πας εσύ μπροστά και κάνουμε γιουρούσι να σπάσουμε τα σύνορα;

    To λαμπρότερο πρόσωπο της απελπισίας είναι ο Θεός, το λαμπρότερο πρόσωπο της ελπίδας είναι ο Θεός, πέρα από την ελπίδα και την απελπισία, πέρα από τα παμπάλαια σύνορα, με σπρώχνεις, Παππού. Πού με σπρώχνεις; Κοιτάζω γύρα μου, κοιτάζω μέσα μου, η αρετή τρελάθηκε, η γεωμετρία τρελάθηκε, η ύλη τρελάθηκε, πρέπει να’ρθει πάλι ο Νούς ο νομοθέτης, να βάλει καινούρια τάξη, καινούριους νόμους, πιο πλούσια αρμονία να γίνει ο κόσμος.

    Αυτό θες, κατά κει με σπρώχνεις, κατά κει μ’έσπρωχνες πάντα, άκουγα μέρα νύχτα την προσταγή σου, μάχουμουν, όσο μπορούσα, να φτάσω όπου δεν μπορούσα, αυτό είχα βάλει χρέος μου, αν έφτασα ή δεν έφτασα, εσύ θα μου πεις. Όρθιος στέκουμαι μπροστά σου και περιμένω.

    Στρατηγέ μου, τελεύει η μάχη, κάνω την αναφορά μου, να που πολέμησα, να πως πολέμησα, λαβώθηκα, δείλιασα, μα δε λιποτάχτησα, τα δόντια μου καταχτυπούσαν από το φόβο, μα τύλιγα σφιχτά το κούτελό μου μ’ένα κόκκινο μαντίλι, να μην ξεκρίνουνται τα αίματα, κι έκανα γιουρούσι.

    Ένα ένα μπροστά σου τα φτερά της καλιακούδας μου ψυχής θα τα μαδήσω, ωσότου ν’απομείνει ένα σβωλαράκι χώμα κι αυτή. Θα σου πω τον αγώνα μου, ν’αλαφρώσω, θα πετάξω από πάνω μου την αρετή, την ντροπή, την αλήθεια, ν’αλαφρώσω.

    Άκουσέ το λοιπόν, Στρατηγέ, την αναφορά μου και κάμε κρίση, άκουσε, Παππού, τη ζωή μου, και αν πολέμησα κι εγώ μαζί σου, αν λαβώθηκα χωρίς κανένας να μάθει πως πόνεσα, αν δε γύρισα ποτέ την πλάτη μου στον οχτρό, δώσε μου την ευκή σου!

  • Yanis,

    I’m sorry about this – the BBC is, in general, one of the best broadcasters in the world, but its news output has become increasingly shallow, tabloid and neo-liberal in outlook over recent years. Perhaps the rot set in after the trouble it got into after trying to expose the duplicity of our government over the Iraq war. It seems too fearful now to even give time to those who challenge orthodoxy. Of course this isn’t helped by it having its funding constantly questioned.

    I’m a Marxist, of the free-thinking variety (should there be any other type?) and I believe that your immediate aim “to save capitalism from itself” is perfectly in tune with the political situation in Greece as well as Europe generally (and beyond). Of course (and I know you realise this already) there are powerful forces with vested interests in the continuation of austerity – never let a good crisis go to waste, they would say. But as long as you, and Syriza, continue to be truthful and open with the citizens of Greece and Europe, there will remain hope, regardless of the bumps along the way. Hopefully Spain, and then others, will join the fight before too long. That would strengthen our campaign immeasurably.

    Keep up your role as the “anti-politician” – your approach over the last weeks has been an inspiration, and It is so important to building wider support for the life and death struggle of the citizens of Greece.

    The very best of luck to you, Greece, and all of us in Europe.

    Darrell Kavanagh.

  • At your convenience give me a call at +1.805.231.7369 PST.
    Thanks,
    Sophia

  • Dear Yanis

    Your interview was at once refreshing, entertaining and erudite.

    It was disappointing that the BBC is willing to sink to tabloid depths and attempt to paint you as prejudiced against Jews and untrusting of Germany. They didn’t even bother reading your blog. You avoided their traps and handled the show with grace and style.

    Good luck, sir!

    Alam Kasenally
    Palo Alto, California

  • Shame on the BBC! I am completely speechless. I, too, usually turn to the BBC daily for coverage for a fair and impartial view of world events. In this case, complex issues are reduced to sound bytes, silly cartoons, and forced confrontations that are an insult to our intelligence. Clearly there is a journalistic agenda here that is the opposite of rationalism. Even worse are the blatant Greek stereotyping and over-simplistic characterizations of Greek people and culture. I feel, Yanis, you would do well to always speak slowly and in English and to exercise the greatest Herculean patience with some of the ridiculous questions being thrown your way such as, “Do you trust Germany?” These are not thoughtful questions but really meant to stir up a Greek/European drama that will sell more TV ads. Perhaps the people at the BBC need to be reminded we are not at a theater event? Shameful “reporting”!

  • Yanis,

    I’ve had the pleasure of liaising extensively with Stuart Holland over the past 72 hours and gleaning further details of your “Modest Proposal” and how this provides a workable framework to deal with Greece’s and much of the Eurozone’s debt issues – nothing radically here, but obviously straggly ignored by the powers that be. Its also illustrative in our private correspondence that those whom we consider the major obstacles to a Euro recovery, are actually in principle not opposed to your ideas, apart from it would seem a dado-masochist hardcore of three EU/EZ members led by Germany.

    Given facts presented to me, some of which were quite shocking, as well as surprising, it would seem that your economic diplomacy is grounded in reality and that building up a majority auto-austerity alliance within the EU’s present membership offers the best hope not only for Greece, but also those nations afflicted by large debts and an inability to service said debt without a modicum of growth, which is sorely missing in Europe presently. as an opponent of both austerity, neoliberalism and a globalisation process gone mad it’s absolutely essential you stick to your guns, not only for Greece’s sake, but those of Greece’s peers in Europe and outside of Europe. Your’s is a worthy struggle, and for 200 years Greece has known many struggles – lets just hope this one ends with a return to common sense, rather than abject failure that will derail any hope presently for radical change and social justice.

  • Dear, Mr. John Varoufakis, hello and all well wishes in your attempts in making progress with an ultimate ideology turned into a reality for all our fellow countrymen and women as well as children living in duress at this time in Greece the land we all call our mother country. The below is a moral uplift for you if you feel overwhelmed in your thoughts or blistered because of present circumstances with which you are faced.

    Bullying is repeated acts over time that involve real or perceived imbalance
    of power with the more powerful attacking those who are less powerful.
    (U.S Dept. of Justice, # Fact Sheet #FS-200127) Bullying can be verbal
    harassment, physical assault, or other more subtle methods of coercion
    such as manipulation. Bullying can be defined in many different ways.
    Although there is no legal definition of bullying some U.S states have laws
    against it. Bullying is usually done to coerce others by fear, threat and
    intimidation. In colloquial speech, bullying often describes a form of
    harassment perpetrated by an abuser who possesses more physical, and/or more
    social power and dominance in a social surrounding than the victim. The victim
    usually referred to as the Target, takes the bullying/ harassment in one of
    many ways from the Bully. The Harassment may come in the form of verbal,
    physical, and/or emotional, and many times if given the opportunity monetary.
    Bullies hurt people verbally and physically, there are many reasons for this behavior, one of many prevailing is they were targets of bullies themselves, they lack skills to properly be able to interact with people, or they are non productive people, and have a need to hide their insecurities. A Norwegian Researcher Dan Olweus Defined Bullying as when
    a person is “exposed repeatedly over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other persons.” Dan Olweus Defined Negative Actions as “when a person or persons intentionally inflicts injury or discomfort upon another person or persons, through physical contact, emotional distress, through words, destruction of property or other ways.”
    Bullying can occur in any setting where human’s beings interact with each other; this includes the home, neighborhood, and even amongst countries, and statesmen within them. Definition of Bullying: Bullying is an act of repeated aggressive behavior in order to intentionally hurt another person or persons, whether this bee physically or mentally. Bullying is characterized by an individual or individuals behaving in a certain way to Gain Power over another person. Behaviors may include Name-calling, Verbal abuse or written abuse, exclusion from activities, exclusion from social events and situations, Physical abuse, or Coercion (Carey, 2003; Whitted & Dupper, 2005). They may bully out of jealousy or because they themselves were bullied. USA National Centers for Education Statistics suggests that bullying can be broken down into two categories: Direct Bullying and Indirect Bullying, which is also know as Social Aggression.
    Direct Bullying is a result of and involves a great deal of physical aggression, such as shoving and poking, throwing things, (one instance in which the police were called, and a police report was taken, the tenants were given warning), throwing things, slapping, choking, punching, and kicking, beating, stabbing, pulling hair, scratching, biting, scraping, and pinching. ( Thank goodness this situation has not come that point yet, however it seems that these tenants at points try to escalate
    it to physical aggression).
    Indirect Bullying, ( More Related to your circumstance), is characterized by threatening the victim/target into Social Isolation. This Isolation is achieved through a wide variety of techniques, including spreading gossip, refusing to socialize with the Victim/Target, bullying others who wish to socialize with the Target/Victim and criticizing the victims manner of dress, and other socially significant markers (including ethnicity, race, religion, disability etc..).
    Other forms of Indirect Bullying which are more subtle and more likely to be verbal are name calling, gossip/false gossip, lies, rumors, false rumors, giggling, laughing at the victim, staring, arguing, saying certain words that trigger a reaction from a past event, mocking, and manipulation.
    There is a growing body of research which indicates that individuals and communities who are persistently subjected to abusive behavior whether adults or children are subject of stress related illness which can sometimes lead to and be manifested to physical illness. Victims of Bullying can suffer from emotional problems leading to loneliness, depression, anxiety, and sometimes low self esteem.
    Characteristics of Bullies: Research studies have shown that cause of bullying in Adults in many instances is envy and resentment. Further studies have shown there is little evidence to suggest that bullies suffer from any
    deficit of self-esteem, this would make it difficult to bully. However bullying can also be used to conceal shame or anxiety or to boost self-esteem: by demeaning others self worth. The abuser him/her feels empowered.
    Bullying does not have to involve criminality or physical abuse, i.e. stealing from the victim or punching the victim. For example Bullying often operates in Adults through Psychological abuse, and/or verbal abuse and isolation from counterparts. Researchers have identified other risk factors such as quickness to anger and use force, addiction to aggressive behaviors, mistaking others actions as hostile, concern with preserving self image, and engaging in obsessive or rigid actions. There is also research evidence to indicate that that bullying during childhood whether direct, indirect or
    observed in a nuclear family setting can put a child at risk of criminal behavior and domestic violence in their adult life. This seems to be the situation in this case. My abusers feel empowered by coming to court demeaning me and my families’ sense of worth. This not only happens in the court room but as well in our immediate social surroundings. They think it is a joke. Not only do they participate but they have their children participate as well.)
    High-level forms of violence such as assault and murder usually receive media attention, but lower level forms of violence such as bullying, have begun receiving attention and have started being addressed in recent years by researchers and small media publishing (Whitted & Dupper 2005). It is only recently that bullying in small neighborhoods, micro and macro-environments have been researched, recorded, recognized as a separate offense, but there have been well documented cases recorded in different contexts. The fifth volume of the Newgate Calendar contains at least
    on instance where Eton Scholars George Alexander Wood and Aylesbury Assizes, with killing and slaying the Hon. F. Ashley Cooper On Feb 28, 1825, in an incident that would be described as hazing.
    Again, Good Luck and hopefully that reasoning and prudence guide your thoughts and actions.

    Πολύ υποτιμιτημιτικό να είσαι Θεός και να Θελάζης Γουρούνι, ενώ πολύ τιμητικό να είσαι Γουρούνι και να σε Θελάζουν Θεοί… Όλα συμβαίνουν…..

    στρετη γαρ γλως εστι βροτων, πολεες δ᾿ ενι μυθοι φυσιν λεν Ομηρος, παντοιοι, επεων δε πολυς νομος ενθα και ενθα; (Γοργοσρτοφη η γλωσσα του ανθρωπου περισσειες οι κουβεντες, μα ο καμπος διαπλατος για να θεριζεις λογια).

    ουρανω εστηιξε καρη και επι χθονι βαινει, (στυλωνει ψηλα στα ουρανια το κεφαλι μα δε βλεπει πως στο χωμα περπαταει).

  • Well Mr Finance Minister you should have expected that from any media. You are not born yesterday and you are an economist professor with charismatic disposition. It is true that BBC has perhaps lost its renown standards of bygone era. You stick Sir to your guns and anticipate HARDTALK by Media, perhaps a degree of insinuation or hostility or an attempt to hit headlines by misplaced utterances by the interviewee. You are now the focus by opinion formulating agents (some could be sinister) and Media darling, a new actor on stage.Of course the bare bones are subjective and depends on the experience and background of listener or the reporter conducting the interview. You need to make your point clear and apprehensibly realistic.The proof is the end result of your Government policies following your election, unknown as yet, i.e. resolution of the problem facing Greece within European rules and regulations by consensus in a possible spirit of co operation. The Country is in a fix and no easy way out. What you and your Government shouldn’t do is turn out to be the black sheep in the EU tearing agreements, acting irresponsibly or destabilizing Europe because of dogmatic perceptions of Marxist hogwash, in the 21 century. EU stands together and together can resolve the problems. I agree, however in the core argument that 5 or more years of reform was a long time for the average Citizen to bare, admitting that the previous Government was too slow to abide conclusively to reforms, long overdue in a sense over 200 years after independence and unshackle the entrepreneur spirit of Greeks instead of a near Soviet type of economy prone to spending by borrowing. Why they were slow? Because of fear of voter rejection mainly and because the oligarchy and other special interests within, including of course public sector and unions were dead against structural reforms required. You have been elected to do the job so stop complaining (whining) and do what is necessary

  • Yes, communication is a difficult art.

    In the case you may find it useful, please let me share with you some punchline/angles that you may use if you like :
    – to Schauble and other Germans who insist that treaties and votes must be upheld, you should point out that institutions, laws and indeed popular vote must ultimately yield to REALITY. A vote or an unanimous decision, even it it follows punctiliously established procedures cannot repel REALITY. This situation is analogous to what happened recently in the US Senate, where senators refused to recognise that Climate Change was caused by man. The POTUS on twitter published an image saying “Science doesn’t go aways because you vote against it” see https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/558726265163624448/photo/1, Similarly, you may want to tweet “Bankruptcy doesn’t go away because finance ministers vote against it” !
    – To those who challenge the reality of Greek bankruptcy, direct them to the Wikepedia page of “net international investment position” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_international_investment_position) . At the bottom, you find Greece as a net international debtor up to negative 119% of GDP. Countries with a positive figure higher in absolute value are Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan and Switzerland ! Germany is “only” +42% of GDP. Hence the Punchline : “Becoming like Germany falls short of 2/3 of what we owe externally, Greece paying back is equivalent to say that Greece must become the next Singapore or the next Switzerland ! How realistic is that ? Can you say without laughing “Greece is the next Switzerland” ? I love my country, but I cannot do that”. To people who retort that there are after all other countries with severe negative Net International Investment Position, the obvious reply “I never said that I thought Greece was the ONLY country to be bankrupt, and I even understand that it is the major reason why there is so much resistance to accept Greece bankruptcy because popping the “extend and pretend” bubble in Greece is also popping that bubble worldwide”

    If you become the little boy of “The Emperor’s new clothes” on a truly global scale, your place in the history book is really secured…

  • Congratulations Mr. Varoufaki, you most definitely won this round with the obnoxious BBC “Beach”. She came across as a very bad, ignorant, simplistic reporter.
    You were very composed, knowledgable, easy to understand and making a lot of sense.
    Keep up the good work.
    PD

  • Dear Prof. Varoufakis,

    This reporter was extremely rude to say the least.

    This is my first time ever I send a comment to any politician (I know you are not), but I just want to express my gratitude that you are the minister of economics and convey my full support to your efforts on this difficult task what ever the outcome may be. I fully understand how difficult it is to deal with the rest of Europe on this level.

    You make me proud to be Greek and keep treating reporters and others with the same calmness and directness as you did with this one.

    Thank you and all the best.

    Vasilis

  • She was indeed rude, as well as prejudiced it would seem. She was not interested in your answers (mind already made up?). You acquitted yourself very well – BRAVO! I wish you well on your challenging mission….you have your work cut out!

  • One should also point out that Panos Kammenos did not say what the BBC presenter claimed he did. He did not single out Greek Jews, but said rather that, because of a tax policy of ND, the Orthodox Church was taxed differently from other religious communities in Greece, including the Buddhist, Jewish, and Muslim communities. Whether or not his specific point on tax law is factually true is a separate question from the fact that his comment was not antisemitic in content or intent.

  • Hi Yanis, the only way to pass the correct information to the “audience” is this blog. As you said, correctly, journalists love chaos….

  • Really it is like that they are trying not to understand what you are saying. Yani please keep talking. Thank you!!!

  • Γιανη, μια χαρα τα ειπες στο BBC και στην οντως αγενεστατη (και ελλιπως ενημερωμενη) δημοσιογραφο. Πολυ σωστος, ακριβης, με καθαρη σκεψη, και συνεπης με οσα ειπες νωριτερα σημερα στην συνεντευξη τυπου μετα τη συναντηση με τον κ.Νταϊσελμπλουμ. Το ξερω, ειναι δυσκολο, αλλα θα πρεπει να συνηθισουν, τι να κανουμε…

  • Hey Yani; keep up your courage – you, personally, have a lot of support and I am thrilled to see you at the financial helm.

    It has been a dynamic, exciting, and yes I would agree with you, fearful start; but I am strongly encouraged by your composure during that interview! I feel that, as a Greek living abroad, I can finally say that I am looking forward to the days ahead.

    (p.s. your book was an excellent read!)

  • I think this treatment by the media is to be expected. It’s part if the game. I applaud your move of doing away with the troika. People unfortunately have no understanding of how a negotiation process is conducted. The troika’s part these past years was that of an arbitrator/controler and it was as we have come to know terribly biased. It was used repeatedly in the media also as a shifting blame mechanism. Sitting down with them would mean in the eyes of the public all over EU that a bargain has been struck and that the only thing missing is the technical details something that would severely limit our government’s ability to maneuver. Now the message is that there is no deal, the previous process is dead and the only remaining avenue is direct negotiations where the risk and the consequences of a breakdown would be shared no matter what by all parties. Bravo.

  • Surprised you stated you are a fan of BBC. Anyway you found out what the BBC defines as an interview. The reporter places the questions , the questions are formulated explicitly to confirm the reporters parameters of ‘truth’. Any divergence from the interviewer’s script is discouraged/stopped. If BBC’s mantra is that the wall is black, you are there only to confirm it is black. The narrative is dictated and anybody dissenting belongs to cuckoo land.
    Russia understood this and they have rt.com to explain to the “West” that there is more than one narrative.

  • These, I am bold enough to claim, deliberate inaccuracies will be an ongoing experience to make Yanis. I could point out approx 20 such deliberate inaccuracies from the German media landscape since the results of the Greek elections are on the table. Taking just a snippet from your statement, such as ‘The Germans will always pay…’ and presenting this totally out of context to shine a different light on it appears to be a favourite game here. Yes, it is appalling in deed, but this is how the Austerity propaganda has worked for the better part of 5 years now, isn’t it? Same old, same old, divide and conquer.

  • Watched the interview from Somerset. The journalist was obviously looking to give you a tuff match. She lost, in the sense that she didn’t give herself the chance to understand what you were saying (I wonder why really). I wish you all the best of luck! I like to think that it doesn’t take much for the wind to change. A few more supporters from the right places – I’m thinking most of EU politicians – and you will find it easier to get your demands heard.

  • Yanis, goodonyermate! You were a perfect gentleman whilst aunty beebs interviewer was rude and disingenuous. I thought your points were very clear … borrowing more to pay creditors is not sustainable. What next? Getting Greek national debt down to below 100% of GDP through haircuts will leave someone feeling bald. Be creative! Push for a massive debt swap between EU banks and nations that hold each others debt? Look to history -like UKs old Consols and roll all S Europe’s sovereign debts into a EU recovery consolidated fund of undated bonds paying 2% (an attractive rate for EU savers in current times). But most importantly really tackle corruption, the black economy and get young people working again! Stopping the fire sale of public assets may make sense, but don’t rule out promoting small scale private sector solutions. Give underused public assets like land and empty buildings as concessions to young people to start small businesses … Whatever … Try something new. Give some hope to a generation who have never seen a government committed to the public good rather than their own self interest.

  • I thought you gave a great interview. The presenter was crap. Trying too hard to fill the shoes of Jeremy Paxman. Just ending up being rude.You’ve won fans tonight keep on blogging

  • You’ve done well! Keep it up!!!
    Whether you succeed in restoring economic sanity to Europe or not, you’ve done well, and you’re on the right path!! The path of true democracy, instead of oligarchy.

    • P.S. there’s no chance you’ll become a “politician”. You’re too sane for that 🙂
      Greetings from neighboring Bulgaria 🙂

  • I was saddened to see the way you were treated in the Newsnight interview. The interviewer never left you time to finish an answer. I am British and do love the BBC. But you were treated very badly in my opinion. I wanted to hear you develop your argument so that I could form a judgement on it one way or the other but you were not given a chance. Not the BBCs finest moment.

  • Excellent interview and responses to a trying to be clever journalist, bringing her “clear reports from athens” against your dull plan of reconstructions. Your last comment of Cameron made clear who was the most informed on the european politics on this interview! (Please keep blogging like that we need it and keep going without a tie on the meetings, the journalists need it)

  • Yanis can we say that was beautifully “articulate” without evoking Biden’s condescension?

  • hi, my entire family voted for you, and we are behind you and fully support your actions, you know what your talking about, its about time someone…….stood up to the Germans, please…….continue, dont stop, dont even……pay attention…we have lived, thru the worst times of our adult lives…, unemployed, dissappointed, depressed…..blinking, and wondering why are we still..in this dark situation. My name is Vicky Hajithemelis, my grandfather Michael Hajithemelis or Themelis was executed by the Germans in WWII on May 1st in Kessariani, if anything, my grandmother died, poor with a small pension, my father also has passed away, never saw any benefit from losing his father right before his eyes. My two aunts survive, I am his only grandaughter, if anything…we seek justice. Thank you, I am just a small voice, in the back of the room….I hope you read this, thank you in advance for your time and effort. Again, my best regards, and you and the prime minister have our full support. rgds Vicky Hajithemelis
    Athens, Greece

  • Yanis, we are with you, for we need to gain back our lost pride primarily !

  • I sincerely believe you are the finest politician to enter the scene in Europe in decades. We need more of you here.

  • Mr. Varoufakis, this video made my insides cringe. As a Brit who is no fan of the elitist, propagandist, extremely selective BBC, I would like to say that you were – I think – the victim of British anti-intellectualism in this interview (among other ‘isms’ perhaps). Emily Maitlis wanted to get you to take a particular position on an issue that is dependent on so many different factors. You are absolutely right not to give a yes/no answer. The video epitomises sensationalist, yellow journalism that seeks to get interviewees to commit to potentially untenable positions on screen so that they can be skewered later on. You would have a much fairer interview with an independent media outlet such as Democracy Now! Their reporting is a fine example of what journalism is supposed to be. For print media, you may wish to explore media co-ops and Utne reader and its sources. My apologies if I’m preaching to the converted. I leave you with an excerpt from an article about British anti-intellectualism and the tendency to blame the messenger when we don’t understand things as opposed to reflecting upon one’s own lack of understanding and/or knowledge. I wish you the very best in your new role. In solidarity, Ayesha.

    //It is often remarked that Anglo-Saxon culture is marked by a relative pragmatism and empiricism in comparison with continental European cultures which are much more inclined towards high theory, abstraction and so on. It is bound up with differences in the cultural status of the figure of the ‘intellectual’. It is frequently pointed out, for example, that the French admire and take pride in their ‘intellectuals’ while the British are, at best, indifferent about theirs. This is reflected in Anglo-Saxon impatience in relation to conceptual complexity and in its veneration of what is called ‘common sense’ and ‘plain speaking’. How can we explain this Anglo-Saxon anti-intellectualism – this hostility towards theory? As I hope to show here, anti-intellectualism is deeply rooted in the political history of Britain and has long performed a strategic conservative ideological function – which is to shield the status quo from systematic criticism.//

    https://www.opendemocracy.net/ourkingdom/ed-rooksby/britishness-and-anti-intellectualism

  • Yesss, the rudeness is evident and uncalled for, in a BBC presentation. Strangely though, it strengthened your explanations regarding the ‘weak’ points of your argumentation. Have courage!!!

  • Very disappointing and inaccurate BBC reporting. I have found this to be so over the whole pre and post election coverage. For a more impressive coverage and objectivity see channel 4 news

  • It would be much better if you made the conference in english instead of greek. (Or at least use both) You are quite lost in translation regarding your troika comment. Words do matter 🙂

  • Well done Professor! Her’s was the status quo ante agenda. Good luck with the rollback.

  • I’m also a fan of the BBC although much less so since observing what in my opinion was inaccurate and biased reporting of the Scottish Independence Referendum last year. I now seek my news from other sources.

  • Dear Yanis

    You’re a brilliant, undoubtedly incorruptible and utterly brave man. Your appointment as Greece’s minister of finance really is a gift to your countrymen. We all know you will have to confront a multitude of opponents, but my simple message is: never give up. You are a beacon of light in the new Europe that is about to emerge. I, as do many other people, wish you all the best of luck.

    Pieter
    (an admirer from Belgium)

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