Former European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker reflected on the darkest days of the Greek financial crisis and revealed that a European minister proposed that Greece sell the Acropolis to settle its debts.
In a candid interview for the SKAI documentary To the Millimeter (Στο Χιλιοστό) with journalists Eleni Varvitsioti and Victoria Dendrinou, Juncker painted a grim picture of Greece’s standing within the Eurozone leading up to the first bailout.
A crisis of credibility: Sell the Acropolis!
According to Juncker, Greece’s biggest obstacle wasn’t just debt. It was a total collapse of trust. “After Greece admitted to misleading its partners, its credibility was at zero,” Juncker noted. “That was the core problem. Because of that, anyone felt they could say whatever they wanted about the country.”
This lack of respect led to shocking proposals behind closed doors. Juncker recalled a specific Eurogroup meeting where a female Finance Minister suggested that Greece sell the Acropolis to raise funds and escape its deadlock. Juncker’s reaction was immediate and blunt; he told her to stop talking and, in no uncertain terms, to “shut up.”
Lessons for Tsipras
The documentary also sheds light on the 2015 transition of power. Juncker emphasized that while he wanted to treat the new Syriza government as a partner rather than an enemy, he felt the need to manage Alexis Tsipras’ expectations from their very first meeting.
During a private conversation, the newly-elected Prime Minister cited his 36% election victory as a mandate for a total renegotiation of the bailout terms. Juncker was unimpressed.
“That doesn’t move me at all,” Juncker told him. He argued that given the magnitude of Tsipras’ campaign promises, the victory was actually underwhelming. “If I had run on your platform in my country, I would have won 80% of the vote. Based on what you promised, 36% is actually quite low.”
Related: Jean-Claude Juncker Claims He Saved Greece in the Eurozone
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