Here’s a short Twitter Q+A that took place yesterday between Yanis and the Berlin Policy Journal. They covered topics like debt slavery, EU democracy, Thatcher and motorbikes.

BPJ: Thanks for joining us Mr Varoufakis
YV: Thank you for the invitation.
You left office about a year ago – any regrets? #i140c #eurocrisis
None whatsoever. Once it was no longer possible to do good for Greece as minister, there was no reason to stay in office.
Your proudest moment as #Greece’s Minister of Finance?
When a poorly dressed boy pointed me out to another boy & said: “This is the guy that gave our mum a card to buy groceries!”
Since you left, #Greek #euro crisis no longer dominating Europe’s headlines – #coincidence?
My departure ended a rebellion against debt bondage/slavery. Slavery, does not create headlines. A slaves‘ revolt does.
Describe your relationship with Wolfgang #Schäuble
An interesting relationship between fin ministers of a strong & a weak country who were equally powerless to do what was right.
Any takeaway from the #finger #boehmermann affair? #Varoufake
That satire is despised by despots and only appreciated deeply by humanists (even if it comes at a political cost to them).
You recently came out as an admirer of Margaret #Thatcher – care to elaborate? #oppositesattract
I admired something prescient once said by a political opponent. If we cannot do this, politics is inhuman.
You were once dubbed “Most interesting man in the world” by .@businessinsider – are you? #nofalsemodesty
If this is true, the world has become very boring.
You are critical of the #EU but pro-#European – how does that work?
In the same way that to be a good patriot you must often be scorchingly critical of your government.
Do you think there would have been a #Brexit if there had been no #austerity?
No.
In 2015 you started democracy movement .@DiEM_25 in #Berlin. Do its aims fit into the current framework of the #EU?
DiEM25 believes that the EU is disintegrating. We must stabilize Europe’s economy first, before radically democratising the EU.
Any realistic hope to fulfill .@DiEM_25’s demands?
Did the initiators of the anti-slavery movement think their demand was utopian? You bet they did! So what? They succeeded!
Describe a day in the life of #Varoufakis.
Writing, reading, debating and, at some point late in the day, chatting, watching, and listening with my partner-in-everything.
You’re a fan of #motorcycles. Favorite model and/or place to ride?
Yamaha XJR1300, coastal roads in northern and southern Attica, the Peloponnese plus wonderful B roads on Scotland’s West Coast.
Last question: What cause are you most passionate about today? #i140c
Democratising Europe (against the troika’s will) in order to prevent a return of the 1930s in some vicious post-modern form.
Thanks again for your time today!
You are welcome.

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