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Within his freshly published memoir, named Ithaki, the ex- leader Tsipras spares no criticism as he examines that turbulent era during Greece's economic turmoil.

An Unconventional Appointment

As per the ex-PM's recollections, Tsipras chose that unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis to be his finance minister mainly due to his international reputation along with his very persuasive abilities as a public orator.

“In reality, he was, truthfully, more of a personality rather than an economist,” stated Tsipras.

Conflicting Priorities

Tsipras suggests how his finance chief had a personal motives that included advancing his books as well as testing out his economic models using the nation rather than truly fighting for its financial survival.

Tsipras wrote that those talks to prevent insolvency became “not just a way of achieving improved terms for Greece. They became a test, a monumental opportunity to prove the truth of Varoufakis's theories.”

Critical Talks

During tense negotiations, the country found itself dangerously close to leaving the eurozone.

At stake lay both Greece's destiny and those severe cutbacks demanded in exchange for rescue loans by foreign lenders.

Failed Alternatives

Efforts to secure financing elsewhere, including a desperate appeal to Russia to purchase Greek government bonds, were rejected.

Assisting Greece was equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Public Vote and Reversal

In July 2015, the harsh bailout terms were put to a popular referendum, an action that threw the EU into a further existential crisis.

Even though the vote was won decisively by voters who opposed austerity, the prime minister had little option to ignore the result then negotiate a bailout package with foreign lenders which turned out to be tougher.

Final Straw

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

“He was the face of negotiation, the figure who attracted publicity, who graced the covers of publications the world over … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”

After the minister outlined a backup strategy involving establishing a secondary currency as well as issuing coupons to retirees, the leader knew that it was game over questioning him: “Are you serious?”

Lasting Rebuke

Within the book, the author asserts that Varoufakis demonstrated himself to be “unfit for a deal that required complex and delicate handling.”

He also wrote how his confrontational style made him increasingly isolated with colleagues, endangered the country, and assisted hawks that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

This account of history has provoked fury and stunned disbelief in some quarters, while the former minister has maintained a deafening silence on the matter.