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Within his recently unveiled memoir, called Ithaki, the ex- leader Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism as he revisits that turbulent period during Greece's economic turmoil.

A Controversial Appointment

As per Tsipras's recollections, Tsipras chose the unorthodox economist Yanis Varoufakis as the finance minister mainly because of his worldwide fame along with his very persuasive skills as a communicator.

“In reality, he was, actually, more like a celebrity and less of an economic expert,” recalled Tsipras.

Clashing Priorities

Tsipras claims that his finance chief possessed his own agenda which involved advancing Varoufakis's books and experimenting with his own theories on Greece rather than genuinely advocating the country's economic stability.

He explained how the negotiations to prevent bankruptcy became “not just a way of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were an experiment, an historic opportunity to prove the validity of his economic theories.”

Critical Talks

Amid tense negotiations, Greece came perilously close to exiting the single currency area.

On the line lay both Greece's future but also those punishing austerity policies demanded in return for financial aid from international creditors.

Unsuccessful Alternatives

Attempts to secure financing elsewhere, including a desperate appeal to Russia to purchase Greek government bonds, went unanswered.

Assisting the indebted country was tantamount to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly told Tsipras in Moscow.

Referendum and U-Turn

That summer, the excoriating bailout terms were subjected to a public vote, an action which threw the EU into a deeper existential crisis.

Although the vote was carried resoundingly by those who opposed austerity, the prime minister had little option but to ignore the result and negotiate a rescue deal with creditors that turned out to be tougher.

Final Straw

Tsipras revealed that he started questioning Varoufakis relatively soon.

“He was the public image of negotiation, the man who attracted publicity, who appeared on the front pages of magazines globally … he gave the impression he was enjoying his new role.”

When Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan involving establishing a secondary currency and distributing vouchers to retirees, the leader knew that it was the end questioning him: “Is this for real?”

Enduring Criticism

In the book, the author concludes that Varoufakis demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement that required intricate and sensitive management.”

Tsipras also claimed how Varoufakis's aggressive approach left him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, while helped hawks who were pushing for Grexit.

The account of history has been met with fury along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas the former minister has so far kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.