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Within his recently unveiled personal account, named Ithaki, the ex- premier Alexis Tsipras does not hold back as he revisits the turbulent era of Greece's financial crisis.

An Unconventional Appointment

In Tsipras's account, Tsipras appointed the maverick economist Yanis Varoufakis to be his treasury head mainly due to his worldwide fame along with his very persuasive skills as a speaker.

“He was, truthfully, more like a celebrity and less of an economic expert,” recalled the 51-year-old.

Clashing Agendas

The former leader suggests how Varoufakis possessed a personal agenda which involved advancing his books and testing out his game theories on the nation instead of genuinely advocating the country's financial survival.

Tsipras wrote that the talks to prevent insolvency became “not only a way of achieving improved terms for Greece. They were a test, an historic chance to prove the validity of his ideas.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

During tense discussions, the country came dangerously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.

At stake lay both the country's future but also those severe austerity measures required in return for financial aid from international creditors.

Failed Alternatives

Attempts to find financing elsewhere, such as a desperate plea to Russia to purchase Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.

Assisting Greece would be tantamount to throwing money into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have told Tsipras during their meeting.

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

That summer, the excoriating conditions were put to a popular referendum, an action that plunged the EU into further existential crisis.

Even though the referendum was won decisively by voters who opposed the cuts, Tsipras had little option to reject its outcome then agree to a bailout package from creditors which turned out to be even harsher.

Breaking Point

The ex-PM revealed that he started questioning Varoufakis quite early on.

“Varoufakis was the face of negotiation, the figure who attracted publicity, who graced the covers of magazines globally … he gave the impression he was enjoying his new role.”

After the minister outlined a contingency plan involving establishing a parallel currency as well as issuing coupons to retirees, Tsipras knew that it was game over and asked him: “Can you be serious?”

Lasting Rebuke

Within the memoir, the author concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself “unfit for a deal that required complex and sensitive management.”

Tsipras further claimed how his confrontational approach made him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, while helped hawks who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

This account of events has provoked anger along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, while Varoufakis has maintained a conspicuous quiet on the matter.