Greek Finance Minister: "not a question of take it or leave it" - Newsnight

Greece's new left-wing finance minister says his government wants a "rational discussion" with the country's creditors.
Yanis Varoufakis told Newsnight that contrary to what had been reported he had held a "very fruitful meeting" with Jeroen Dijsselbloem, head of the eurozone group of finance ministers in Athens on Friday.
But he said Greece was not prepared to carry on trying "to enforce an unenforceable programme" of austerity measures.

[@ryancarter1038]

Good work Yanis

[@ollersutube]

dreadful reporting. If yes or no answers are so important why doesn't she just sit at home and flip a coin all night. I want to hear what he has to say. This is a complex issue and history in the making all she wants is to turn it into some petty game. What a wasted opportunity.

[@bobrolander4344]

All these pseudo journalists getting bribed by corrupt politicians and power hungry corporation.

[@mercedesherranz]

She was very rude indeed.

[@webz1984]

The host is rather rude, but what Yanis said really spoke to me!

[@davidlewin9585]

Varoufakis not just an academic he is an economics professor!!

[@olaPRASINAgiatre]

The million hit video is down for an "unknown" reason for BBC! Prapaganda?!?!

[@diamantis5099]

Yes cause we have democracy and freedom of speech my friend...

[@D1Trini4u]

I guess that this is the beauty of good journalism. If the BBC were truly slanted, they would not have given the piece air time at all, but they did, and allowed a righteous guest to deconstruct their ignorant and small view of a truly complex, devastating, and wide ranging issue. He is the Greek Finance minister. This could have been an extraordinary interview where he is allowed to manifest his agenda, his views, and his hopes for Greece, and how, as a Finance Minister he would go about doing so. The BBC's reporting here is the only source (in the English speaking world, I might add to you) with this level of access, to such a key person, at such an instrumental time. This is history in the making. They could be doing a great job of recording it. Yet, the reporter treated him like a child, asking Him (at perhaps the defining moment of his career, and of recent Greek history) for a "simple yes or no". To be honest a lesser man would have not suffered the fool, but he took Stings' advice and smiled through it. It's a complex labyrinth of issues. No simple answers. That said, at least we got to see this train wreck? Good job at the BBC?

[@tiberio135]

Well said. However, I would not call it 'good journalism'. That is a stretch. The BBC has an agenda. And clearly is not a socialist or leftist one. 180 degrees the opposite, my friend.

[@MatthewLowery]

tiberio135 They're not left or right, they're just pro-establishment.

[@tsilin.1330]

Matthew Lowery this is the exact opposite of good journalism!! She is just trying to provoke him in order to make him say something that could embarass him in live television..... what kind of question is '' do you trust Germany''? of course he doesnt!! He is aware that the Germans will try to crush Greece, or anyone for that matter, if they try to upset the balance of power in Europe and pave the way for bigger countries like Italy or Spain to demand the same terms that Greece is asking for their own debt... That said how could any sane person say in tv something like that while on negotiations whith Germany?!?!?! This attitude clearly shows that the only aim of this ''jurnalist'' is to make it hard on him to present his ideas with clarity and to distort his views on the reforms he will try to implement( whether you agree with them or not is irrelevent) in Greece... One can clearly see that those views are exactly the same with the opinions expressed in all of the german media....

[@D1Trini4u]

I think that you guys/gals missed my point. The first line was a backhanded compliment, that just happens here to be true. Like I said, the choice to run the piece, at all, is the move that I applause because no other sources even have the access to the Finance Minister, and unlike many other news sources, at least we are hearing what He is saying much less like that of German media who slant the idea of Greek resistance to a truly harsh (and corrupt) 'austerity'. I agree with the Finance Minister here. He is representative of a vocal Greek opinion, that many of these 'austerity' measures are advantageous to businesses and harmful to the Greek people at a time of manufactured weakness against them. The applause of Good Journalism here was that despite their slanted views, and their downright confrontational host demeaning the Finance Minister, was still aired, even as he demolished her petulant behavior. Look at the piece again, and you will see that I am in support of the Finance Minister, not only because of his views, but also because of his handling of this hostile interviewer. He did a fantastic job of keeping his cool, and holding to his convictions and I believe that it is indicative of how he will handle this situation.

[@D1Trini4u]

tsilibaris nikiforidis​ I agree that German hostility toward Greece is based on the concept that it may well have a ripple effect on other nations in similar circumstances, and dually understand the sentiment in the public arena held by most Greeks. Remind you, I agree with you. However, Germany has badly misplayed their hand here. Sure, some of the austerity measures have been good for Greece, as some of the financial am reforms have freed Greece from some of the financial entanglements that kept her from enforcing certain policies (tax evasion is being lowered, brining more tax money back into the Greek economy), and in that respect, kudos. However, the Greek people have generally suffered - be it the lack of social spending (at a time where an increase could have benefitted the weakend position of many crumbling social institutions), lowered wages (or generally a lack of jobs, and a jump in poverty) and privatizations (which horribly, and some would say intentionally, misvalue Greek public assets and amount to a "fire sale" that will not only burden the Greek taxpayer as they have already footed the bill, but will dualy burden them in the future as they watch prized assets gain profit for private investors not to the benefit of the Greek people). Germany gave little thought to the people of Greece, putting profits before people. This is a reaction, direct and concise, from the people demanding reform. Germany should not be worried by this but heed the warning. People come first. This need to be put into account before they demand these things of other nations. I applaud the Greek people here, and do hope that Europe wakes up. You cannot treat people this way. There needs to be a balance, between good policy and people's happiness. It's time Germany take that into account and the strength of the Greek people, and Greek democracy have proven a strong deterrent to mercilessly strong austerity - not only against the Greek economy, but the Greek people, and their value of life. Any good that austeiry did was outweighed by it's harshness. Had Germany been more cognitive of the Greek people, this could have been a completely different outcome.

[@jennifercruz8142]

Αααχ... Παλιές καλές εποχές...

[@mariettestabel275]

This Man is the Future. Hope for the Next Generation . Brilliant Teacher. This journalist is not Polite. And Yanis, always a Gentleman. Excellent!

[@maxalfredjoelasemoule3993]

congrats, Minister (and this interviewer lady really is a δύσοσμα πρωκτό)

[@jennifercruz8142]

The google translation is hilarious

[@J.UA.N]

Escaldar a un periodista que se siente incisivo es un placer al alance de pocos. Varukakis es un superheroe.

[@wallypally]

quite sad, i dont know but i feel like someone else is on the other headpiece of hers telling her what to say. just looks so forced, yanis was so calm. we can look at this interview and see this definitely isnt how a conversation should be held

[@diktrom7433]

She is not interested in his answers for a reason.

[@stefanremund8596]

I see what passes for journalism in Europe is just about as awful and shallow as it is here in the US

[@mahabraja]

Good answers from the Greek Finance Minister...Black Hole of unsustainable debt...what does it mean...I know...Kekeke...

[@Elevate320]

Five arrow minority report. Cash

[@kimberg-olsen81]

Yanis👏👏👏

[@Elevate320]

Five arrows solution partner. Kamp SA

[@Elevate320]

Five arrows credit solutions. Five arrow principal offering Five arrow debt part 123 Castle 🏰

[@thetumans1394]

Long live Yanis Varoufakis!

[@brnpeter6]

incredibly rude host go yanis

[@suziegreer7975]

YANIS VAROUFAKIS I NEED TO TALK TO YOU I NEED TO WHISTLE BLOW AND I JUST CANT LET THIS GO I WANT YOU TO GIVE ME SOME KIND OF CHANNEL TO SPEAK TO YOU FOR A SLOW RESOLUTION OF THE GLOBAL PROBLEM I REALISE THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM BECAUSE BEFORE NOW I WAS A STAUNCH LABOUR SUPPORTER I KNOW SEE WE HAVE COME TO A CLIFF HANGER THAT SERVES NO PURPOSE.

[@SirAmicVarze]

Fourteen and a half minutes and I still have no idea what policies he actually wants to work on.

[@tiberio135]

Are you serious or just intellectually challenged?

[@SirAmicVarze]

tiberio135 I'd like to ask you the same question.

[@jennifercruz8142]

Four years and *I* still haven't figured this out.

[@jonathanabram1081]

@@jennifercruz8142 read his work you'll understand

[@jennifercruz8142]

@@jonathanabram1081 He started to appear on TV in talk shows in Greece a couple of years before the 2010 crisis hit. Later, as a politician, he tried to implement practices and policies that only a super power would be able to back him up. Little Greece has neither the diplomatic nor the financial power to back Varoufakis's blackmailing philosophy. If I can understand this but a redoubtable professor can't, then what can I say... Blah blah blah... theories theories theories about how a country with weak industry could have blackmailed Germany and others. Bullshit. Reality shows that in the jungle jackals and foxes (small countries) patiently watch the lion (Germany) eat, and only when it leaves they go to eat the leftovers. This way they continue to exist with their bellies full, not having spent energy for the actual hunt (goods production). Varoufakis should have easily predicted his colleagues' reaction and follow a softer diplomacy. He would have saved us (Greeks) a lot of pain.

[@katerinagiuttari6167]

Left or right , all Greek parties are Nationalistic/racist , thats that. Yanis is not a radical leftist