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Within his recently unveiled personal account, titled Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Alexis Tsipras pulls no punches while he reflects on that turbulent era of Greece's financial crisis.

An Unconventional Appointment

As per the ex-PM's account, he chose that maverick academic Varoufakis as his finance minister mainly because of the latter's global profile along with his highly compelling skills as a public orator.

“In reality, he was, truthfully, more like a celebrity and less of an economist,” stated Tsipras.

Conflicting Priorities

Tsipras claims how his finance chief possessed a personal agenda that included promoting Varoufakis's books as well as testing out his own economic models on the nation instead of genuinely fighting for the country's economic stability.

Tsipras wrote that those negotiations to prevent insolvency became “not just a method to secure a better deal for the country. They became a test, a monumental opportunity to prove the truth of his ideas.”

Critical Negotiations

During rollercoaster discussions, Greece found itself perilously close to leaving the single currency area.

On the line lay both the country's destiny and the punishing cutbacks required in return for bailout funds by foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Options

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

Assisting Greece would be tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have told Tsipras in Moscow.

Referendum and U-Turn

That summer, those excoriating conditions were subjected to a public vote, an action that plunged Europe into a further existential crisis.

Although the vote was carried decisively by voters against the cuts, the prime minister was forced but to reject its outcome then negotiate a rescue deal from creditors which turned out to be more severe.

Breaking Point

The ex-PM revealed how he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.

“He was the public image of the talks, the man who drew media attention, who appeared on the covers of magazines globally … it seemed he relished his new role.”

After Varoufakis outlined a backup strategy involving establishing a parallel currency and issuing coupons to pensioners, Tsipras said he realised that it was game over and asked him: “Is this for real?”

Lasting Rebuke

Within the book, the author asserts that Varoufakis demonstrated himself to be “unfit for an agreement that required intricate and delicate management.”

He further claimed that his confrontational style left him increasingly isolated with colleagues, endangered the country, while helped hardliners that were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

The account of history has been met with fury along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas Varoufakis has so far maintained a conspicuous quiet on the matter.