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Within his freshly published personal account, named Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras does not hold back as he reflects on that turbulent period during Greece's financial crisis.

An Unconventional Choice

In the ex-PM's account, Tsipras appointed that maverick economist Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister primarily due to his worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” skills as a communicator.

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

Clashing Agendas

Tsipras claims how Varoufakis had his own motives which included advancing his publications and testing out his theories using the nation rather than genuinely advocating its financial survival.

Tsipras explained how those discussions to avoid bankruptcy became “not just a method of achieving a better deal for Greece. They became an experiment, a monumental opportunity to demonstrate the truth of Varoufakis's ideas.”

High-Stakes Talks

During tense negotiations, the country came perilously close to leaving the eurozone.

On the line lay not only Greece's destiny but also those harsh cutbacks demanded in exchange for rescue loans by foreign lenders.

Failed Options

Attempts to find funds elsewhere, such as a desperate appeal to the Kremlin to purchase Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.

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

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

That summer, those harsh conditions were put to a public vote, an action which threw Europe into a deeper crisis of identity.

Although the vote was carried resoundingly by those against austerity, Tsipras was forced but to ignore the result and negotiate a rescue deal from creditors which turned out to be even harsher.

Breaking Point

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

“Varoufakis was the public image of negotiation, the figure who attracted publicity, who graced the covers of magazines globally … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”

After the minister outlined a backup strategy involving establishing a secondary currency as well as distributing coupons to pensioners, the leader said he realised it was game over questioning him: “Can you be serious?”

Enduring Criticism

Within the book, the author asserts how his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unfit for a deal that required complex and sensitive management.”

Tsipras further claimed that Varoufakis's confrontational approach made him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, while assisted hardliners who were advocating Grexit.

This account of events has been met with anger along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas the former minister has kept a deafening silence on the matter.