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In a newly released personal account, called Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Alexis Tsipras pulls no punches while he reflects on the chaotic period during Greece's economic turmoil.

An Unconventional Choice

As per Tsipras's recollections, he chose that maverick academic Varoufakis to be the finance minister primarily because of his global profile and Varoufakis's very persuasive skills when it came to public orator.

“In reality, he was, truthfully, more like a personality and less of an economic expert,” wrote the 51-year-old.

Conflicting Agendas

Tsipras suggests how Varoufakis possessed his own agenda which included promoting Varoufakis's publications as well as testing out his own theories on Greece rather than genuinely advocating its economic stability.

He noted how the negotiations to avoid bankruptcy were “not only a way of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were a test, an historic chance to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's theories.”

High-Stakes Talks

Amid volatile negotiations, the country found itself dangerously on the brink of leaving the eurozone.

On the line was not only Greece's future but also those severe austerity measures required in return for bailout funds by foreign lenders.

Failed Alternatives

Efforts to find financing elsewhere, including an urgent plea to Russia to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.

Helping Greece was tantamount to throwing money into the garbage, the Russian leader reportedly informed his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

In July 2015, the excoriating bailout terms were put to a popular referendum, an action that plunged Europe into a deeper crisis of identity.

Although the vote was won resoundingly by those against the cuts, the prime minister was forced but to reject its outcome and agree to a rescue deal from creditors that proved to be tougher.

Breaking Point

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

“He was the face of the talks, the man who attracted media attention, who appeared on the front pages of publications the world over … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”

After Varoufakis proposed a backup strategy involving creating a parallel currency as well as issuing vouchers to pensioners, Tsipras knew that it was the end and asked him: “Can you be serious?”

Enduring Rebuke

In the memoir, the author asserts how Varoufakis demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for a deal demanding intricate and delicate handling.”

He further claimed that his confrontational style made him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while assisted hawks who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

The retelling of events has been met with anger and shock in some quarters, while Varoufakis has so far kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.