×
GreekEnglish

×
  • Politics
  • Diaspora
  • World
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Cooking
Sunday
07
Jun 2026
weather symbol
Athens 31°C
  • Home
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • World
  • Diaspora
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Mediterranean Cooking
  • Weather
Contact follow Protothema:
Powered by Cloudevo
> Economy

Bank of Greece Governor blasts ex-Finance Minister Varoufakis before parliamentary committee

Varoufakis caused capital controls, he said

Newsroom October 12 08:45

Δείτε περισσότερα άρθρα μας στα αποτελέσματα αναζήτησης

Add Protothema.gr on Google

The Governor of the Bank of Greece (BoG), Yiannis Stornaras testified before the parliamentary enquiry committee examining the loans to Greek media, Tuesday, causing former Finance Minister Yianis Varoufakis for the harm caused on the Greek economy due to the capital controls imposed in the summer of 2015. In the long, and often heated questing by the committee members, Stournaras revealed that Varoufakis was going around saying he was a Minister of a bankrupt country. Stournaras directly linked Greece losing the waiver on state bonds and the start of Greek banks being cut off from liquidity to the stance taken by the former Minister during his tenure in office. He added that he had urged other SYRIZA Ministers, like Dragasakis to ‘reel in’ Varoufakis, but said the damage had already been done to the economy with the ECB suspending its support to the Greek banking system. The head of the BoG defended the state of Greek banks, despite the pressing questions by MP committee members from the coalition government of SYRIZA-ANEL, claiming they were in much better shape than other EU banks regarding their capitalisation levels, adding that this had been achieved with the minimum burdening of the Greek taxpayer. Stournaras insisted the Greek banking system was fortified due to a third capitalisation, even though the 2014 stress tests showed the banks were in no need for further financial assistance. The governor claimed the first period of SYRIZA-ANEL in power as one of great uncertainty, claiming it had brought about a deterioration in the macroeconomic climate in the country, which lead to missing the GDP 2.5% target and to the inevitable capitalisation of the banks. The central banker objected to the members’ arguments that the Greek banks had been sold off to private investors, stressing that the Greek had maintained a role through the Hellenic Financial Stability Fund. On whether he believed Greece could exit the current economic crisis, Stournaras expressed his reserved optimism. “We still have some distance to cover before we can go to the markets”, he said.

Ask me anything

Explore related questions

> More Economy

Follow en.protothema.gr on Google News and be the first to know all the news

See all the latest News from Greece and the World, the moment they happen, at en.protothema.gr

> Latest Stories

EU: compensation for delayed flights remains in place, up to €600 for passengers

June 7, 2026

Greek FBI combs through €500,000 worth of luxury cars, villas, and new allegations of ties between the Vilanakis family and police officers

June 7, 2026

Traffic regulations in the center of Athens for the 6th Run Bike Care, which roads are closed

June 7, 2026

Temperatures up to 35°C today; How the weather will develop over the next few days

June 7, 2026

The 37-year-old Palestinian man accused of being a member of Hamas had been living in Crete for two years: The information from Cyprus and the preparation for a terrorist attack

June 7, 2026

ELAS Raids urban planning offices in Attica over alleged corruption scheme: Six arrested, more than €330,000 seized, criminal organization charges filed

June 6, 2026

Circular economy in the field: How agricultural residues return to the soil and boost agricultural production

June 6, 2026

Slight rise in temperature and local afternoon showers in mountainous areas

June 6, 2026
All News

> Greece

In reverence, the emotional deposition in Jerusalem, see photos & video

The Holy Temple of the Resurrection opened after many days due to the war between Israel and Iran

April 10, 2026

In the final stretch for the accreditation of joint master’s degrees: Aiming for their launch in the coming academic year

April 10, 2026

Schedule for Epitaph Procession today (10/4)

April 10, 2026

Perfect weather for Easter excursions, according to Tsatrafyllia’s forecast

April 10, 2026

Easter in Greece: The customs that continue in Greek tradition – From Nafpaktos to Corfu

April 10, 2026
Homepage
PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION POLICY COOKIES POLICY TERM OF USE
Powered by Cloudevo
Copyright © 2026 Πρώτο Θέμα