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Within his recently unveiled personal account, named Ithaki, the ex- premier Tsipras does not hold back while he reflects on that chaotic era of Greece's economic turmoil.

An Unconventional Appointment

As per the ex-PM's recollections, he selected that unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister primarily because of the latter's worldwide fame and his highly compelling skills as a public orator.

“He was, actually, more like a celebrity rather than an economic expert,” stated the 51-year-old.

Clashing Agendas

The former leader suggests how Varoufakis had a personal motives that involved advancing Varoufakis's books and experimenting with his own economic models using Greece instead of truly fighting for its financial survival.

He wrote how the talks to stave off insolvency were “not only a way of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were a test, an historic chance to demonstrate the truth of his ideas.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

During tense negotiations, Greece came perilously on the brink of leaving the eurozone.

At stake was not only the country's future but also the severe cutbacks demanded in exchange for bailout funds by foreign lenders.

Failed Alternatives

Attempts to find funds elsewhere, including an urgent appeal to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.

Assisting the indebted country was tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have told Tsipras in Moscow.

Public Vote and Reversal

In July 2015, those punitive conditions were subjected to a popular referendum, a move which threw the EU into deeper crisis of identity.

Although the referendum was carried resoundingly by voters against austerity, Tsipras was forced to reject its outcome then agree to a rescue deal with foreign lenders that turned out to be tougher.

Final Straw

The ex-PM claimed how he started questioning his finance minister quite early on.

“Varoufakis was the face of negotiation, the figure who drew media attention, who appeared on the front pages of publications the world over … he gave the impression he was enjoying his new role.”

When the minister proposed a backup strategy involving establishing a parallel currency and issuing vouchers to retirees, Tsipras knew that it was the end questioning Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”

Enduring Criticism

In the memoir, the author asserts how Varoufakis had proved himself “unfit for a deal that required intricate and sensitive management.”

Tsipras further wrote how his confrontational approach left him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, while assisted hardliners that were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

The account of history has provoked anger and stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas Varoufakis has so far maintained a deafening silence on the matter.