Athens, Greece. Greece’s former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has been charged with promoting drug use after he publicly said he took an ecstasy pill nearly four decades ago, his party said. Varoufakis is due to appear in court in December.
Podcast remarks and alleged offence
Varoufakis, an economics professor and secretary of the small leftist party Mera25, said on the podcast “3026: Human Algorithm” that he had tried ecstasy or MDMA in Australia in 1989. He described it as “a terrific experience until the days after,” saying he was able to dance for hours but then suffered migraines.
He also said he had smoked marijuana in the past.
Political context and response
Varoufakis, 64, drew attention during bailout negotiations in 2015 at the peak of Greece’s debt crisis, when he infuriated euro zone partners with what was described as an unconventional style and lectures.
Reuters could not immediately reach Varoufakis for comment.
Mera25 issued a statement accusing Greece’s conservative government of seeking to silence Varoufakis through the courts. “The idea of a political party leader standing trial for referring to his experience with substances many decades ago is not a random and innocent blunder,” the party said.
“We will not remain silent. Neither about the provocative manipulation of the judiciary nor about the major problem of addiction,” it added.
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