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In a newly released personal account, titled Ithaki, the ex- leader Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism while he reflects on that turbulent period during Greece's debt drama.

A Controversial Appointment

As per the ex-PM's version, Tsipras selected that unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis as the treasury head largely due to his worldwide fame along with his very persuasive skills when it came to communicator.

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

Clashing Priorities

Tsipras alleges that his finance chief possessed a personal motives that involved promoting his publications and experimenting with his game theories using Greece instead of genuinely fighting for its financial survival.

He noted how those talks to avoid insolvency were “not only a method to secure improved terms for Greece. They became an experiment, a monumental chance to prove the truth of his ideas.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

Amid tense negotiations, Greece came perilously on the brink of leaving the single currency area.

At stake was both the country's future and those severe cutbacks demanded in return for rescue loans by foreign lenders.

Failed Alternatives

Attempts to find financing elsewhere, such as an urgent appeal to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.

Helping Greece would be equivalent to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly informed Tsipras during their meeting.

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

In July 2015, those harsh bailout terms were subjected to a public vote, a move that plunged the EU into a further existential crisis.

Even though the vote was won resoundingly by voters who opposed austerity, the prime minister had little option to ignore the result then agree to a rescue deal with foreign lenders that turned out to be more severe.

Breaking Point

The ex-PM claimed how he started questioning his finance minister relatively soon.

“He was the face of negotiation, the man who attracted publicity, who graced the covers of publications the world over … he gave the impression he was enjoying his new role.”

When the minister proposed a backup strategy involving establishing a parallel currency as well as issuing coupons to retirees, Tsipras knew it was the end and asked Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”

Enduring Criticism

In the memoir, the author asserts how his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for a deal that required complex and sensitive handling.”

He also claimed that his aggressive style made him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, while assisted hardliners who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

The account of history has provoked fury along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas Varoufakis has kept a conspicuous quiet on the matter.