http://www.cityam.com/211629/austere-greece-not-home-varoufakis
Notorious Greek Minister of Finance Yanis Varoufakis has clearly demonstrated the meaning he puts in the expression "modest lifestyle" which he has been urging the Greeks to lead since he took over leadership of the department. During the first days, he posed before photographers, who are always after him, with the koulouri (bread ring) he would buy from a street vendor upon returning from parliament.
Very soon, however, the Greek and European public were puzzled to see the Minister of Finance of almost bankrupt Greece appear at the first meeting of the Eurogroup, which involved him, wearing an expensive scarf by a world famous brand.
Then followed the photos of the villa of Varoufakis’ wife on Aegina to which the couple sails by a ship that serves the regular route, in the company of "ordinary" citizens. Of course, with a surface area of 170 square metres, a swimming pool and many works of art in it, the villa is far from being owned by "ordinary" Greeks.
Since yesterday, Yanis Varoufakis has again become the most discussed Greek politician because of the lifestyle story about him and his wife Danae Stratou published in the French magazine Paris Match.
In the photos, the colourful couple is posing in their house, which is located at the foot of the Acropolis and overlooks the sacred hill for ancient Greeks.
Undoubtedly, this is only one of dozens of interviews Varoufakis gives every day for Greek and foreign media. However, it is the most provocative of them and the photos in it show an extremely expensive and luxurious lifestyle. According to the Greek media, they are almost on the verge of "lifestyle porn".
Varoufakis and his wife are posing in front of the bookcase of the Minister, who is holding one of his books entitled "Rational conflict". Another picture shows him sitting at the piano and in a third, he is serving salad at the family table, on which one can see fish and seafood.
The comments on the photo session on social networks are still very sharp, "Socialism with white wine under the Acropolis", "We see in the photo the Minister of Finance and his wife having dinner according to the dogma of ‘modest lifestyle’ and proposing a toast with white wine of this year’s crop, called ‘A sip of dignity’", "Varoufakis found time to indulge in international lifestyle on 8 March 2015... OK, comrades, you have gone too far."
So far, it is not clear how the photo session in the luxurious residence of the Minister of Finance would contribute to the successful completion of the negotiations between the government and the lenders. Especially accounting for the fact that the first draft, which was submitted to parliament for approval, aims to relieve the victims of the "humanitarian crisis" in Greece.
