Yanis Varoufakis, perhaps the most recognisable global commentator on the Greek crisis, shared his thoughts – and fears – this week on becoming a SYRIZA candidate in the Greek election.

Varoufakis – of dual Greek and Australian citizenship and Professor of Economic Theory at the University of Athens – has analysed the reasons for Greece’s economic turmoil since the crisis began; a situation which he lays squarely at the door of the troika’s “cynical” bailout terms and a failure of the Greek government to contest enforced austerity measures.

If SYRIZA wins at the polls next Sunday there’s little doubt that Varoufakis will play a role in attempting to implement SYRIZA’s radical economic agenda – which includes debt renegotiation and cancelling the austerity measures which underpin Greece’s 240 billion euro bailout.

Speaking to Russia Today this week, Varoufakis admitted that his arrival in the political arena (he will run in Athens’ B’ Athinon electorate – a sprawling, largely working-class constituency) was the result of an offer he simply couldn’t refuse.

“Alexis Tsipras invited me, if there is a SYRIZA government, to participate in an attempt to implement the policies I have been advocating,” said the former University of Sydney lecturer.

“For five years now I’ve been putting forward alternative proposals to the ones that have been implemented.

“It was morally and politically impossible to turn down such an offer, even though I dread it.”

On announcing his candidature, Varoufakis said his greatest fear was that he would turn into a politician.

“As an antidote to that virus, I intend to write my resignation letter and keep it in my inside pocket, ready to submit it the moment I sense signs of losing the commitment to speak truth to power.”

Confidante of Varoufakis, Melbourne University professor Nikos Papastergiadis, told Neos Kosmos that his friend’s reticence to engage in Greek politics was a good sign.

“I don’t doubt he’s doing this reluctantly, but that’s the best kind of politician. The one who does it with zealousness and enthusiasm, you suspect their motivations may be anything but pure.”

“He’s squeaky clean and he represents this intellectual, more moral, enlightened approach towards politics.”

While Varoufakis was a former advisor to PASOK, Papastergiadis says running for Greece’s once dominant social-democratic party would never have been an option.

“Yanis was close to Papandreou, but he would have never considered running for PASOK. With SYRIZA it’s a different historical moment.”

Speaking to Neos Kosmos this week, Helena Smith, The Guardian’s correspondent in Athens, said that Varoufakis had every chance of electoral success.

“B’ Athinon is considered very tough to win a seat in, but I am told by the best of sources that his superstar status in popularising the economy for ordinary Greeks will ensure that he does get elected.”

Varoufakis’ consistent line in recent months has been to say that while the Greek state has managed to eliminate the country’s primary deficit – “at huge expense and social cost to the population”, Greece’s insolvency will remain until European-wide reforms and the EU’s “fiscal water-boarding” are challenged.

“The EU and the IMF, in their wisdom, decided to unload a very large loan upon very weak Greek shoulders on condition of austerity that shrinks income. So extend and pretend,” said the potential SYRIZA finance minister.

“And as we all know with the ‘extend and pretend’ strategy, you don’t overcome bankruptcy, you deepen it, and project it into the future.

“We now have the possibility of redemption on the 25th of January with a new government.”