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Within his freshly published memoir, named Ithaki, the former premier Tsipras does not hold back as he reflects on that chaotic period of Greece's economic turmoil.

An Unconventional Appointment

In Tsipras's recollections, he appointed that maverick academic Varoufakis as his treasury head mainly due to his worldwide fame along with his highly compelling abilities as a public orator.

“He was, in reality, more of a personality and less of an economic expert,” stated Tsipras.

Clashing Priorities

The former leader suggests how his finance chief possessed a personal agenda that involved promoting Varoufakis's books and experimenting with his game theories using the nation rather than truly advocating the country's economic stability.

Tsipras wrote how the talks to avoid bankruptcy were “not just a method of achieving improved terms for the country. They became a test, an historic opportunity to prove the validity of Varoufakis's ideas.”

High-Stakes Talks

During rollercoaster discussions, the country found itself dangerously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.

At stake lay both Greece's destiny and the punishing cutbacks demanded in exchange for financial aid from international creditors.

Failed Options

Attempts to find financing from other sources, such as a desperate plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.

Helping Greece was tantamount to throwing money in the trash-can, Putin reportedly told Tsipras in Moscow.

Referendum Followed by Reversal

That summer, those excoriating bailout terms were subjected to a popular referendum, a move which threw the EU into a deeper crisis of identity.

Even though the vote was won decisively by voters against the cuts, Tsipras was forced but to reject its outcome and negotiate a bailout package from creditors that proved to be even harsher.

Final Straw

The ex-PM claimed how he started questioning his finance minister quite early on.

“Varoufakis was the face of negotiation, the figure who attracted media attention, who graced the front pages of publications the world over … it seemed he was enjoying his new role.”

When Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan that included creating a secondary currency as well as issuing coupons to retirees, Tsipras knew that it was game over and asked Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”

Enduring Criticism

In the book, Tsipras concludes that his former ally demonstrated himself “unsuitable for an agreement demanding intricate and sensitive management.”

Tsipras also claimed how Varoufakis's confrontational approach left him more and more alone among peers, put Greece at risk, while assisted hawks who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

The account of history has been met with anger and shock in some quarters, while the former minister has maintained a deafening silence on the matter.