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Within his newly released memoir, titled Ithaki, the former premier Tsipras spares no criticism as he revisits the turbulent era during Greece's financial crisis.

An Unconventional Appointment

According to the ex-PM's account, he appointed that maverick economist Yanis Varoufakis as the finance minister largely due to his global profile and his highly compelling skills when it came to public orator.

“He was, truthfully, more of a star rather than an economic expert,” stated Tsipras.

Conflicting Priorities

Tsipras suggests that his finance chief had a personal agenda which involved promoting Varoufakis's books and experimenting with his own economic models using Greece instead of truly fighting for the country's economic stability.

He explained that those discussions to avoid bankruptcy were “not just a way to secure a better deal for the country. They were a test, an historic chance to prove the truth of his theories.”

Critical Talks

During volatile negotiations, Greece came perilously close to leaving the single currency area.

On the line lay not only the country's destiny and those severe austerity policies demanded in exchange for financial aid from foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Alternatives

Efforts to find financing elsewhere, including a desperate plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.

Assisting the indebted country would be equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, the Russian leader reportedly informed Tsipras in Moscow.

Referendum Followed by U-Turn

In July 2015, the harsh conditions were put to a popular referendum, a move that plunged Europe into deeper existential crisis.

Even though the referendum was won resoundingly by those who opposed austerity, Tsipras had little option but to reject its outcome and agree to a rescue deal from creditors that proved to be more severe.

Final Straw

The ex-PM claimed how he began to doubt Varoufakis quite early on.

“He was the face of negotiation, the man who attracted media attention, who graced the covers of magazines the world over … it seemed he was enjoying his new role.”

After the minister outlined a contingency plan that included establishing a parallel currency as well as issuing coupons to pensioners, the leader knew that it was game over and asked him: “Are you serious?”

Enduring Criticism

Within the book, Tsipras asserts that his former ally had proved himself to be “unsuitable for a deal that required complex and sensitive management.”

He also wrote that Varoufakis's confrontational approach made him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, while helped hawks that were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

The retelling of history has been met with anger along with shock in some quarters, while the former minister has kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.