Speaking to CNBC in Athens as the news emerged, George Katrougalos, minister for Administrative Reform of Greece, told CNBC that Varoufakis wanted to help Tsipras get a „fresh start“ for talks on reforms.

„I think that he has done a great job and I suppose he wanted to facilitate this fresh start that the prime minister wanted to give the negotiations. We want a compromise, a fair and equitable compromise,“ he said.