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Within his freshly published memoir, titled Ithaki, the former prime minister Tsipras does not hold back as he revisits that chaotic era of Greece's debt drama.

An Unconventional Appointment

In Tsipras's recollections, Tsipras selected the maverick economist Yanis Varoufakis to be his treasury head primarily because of his worldwide fame and Varoufakis's very persuasive abilities when it came to speaker.

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

Conflicting Priorities

Tsipras alleges that Varoufakis had a personal motives that involved advancing his books and testing out his own theories using the nation rather than truly advocating its economic stability.

Tsipras noted that those talks to stave off insolvency were “not only a method of achieving a better deal for Greece. They were a test, an historic chance to demonstrate the validity of his theories.”

High-Stakes Talks

During tense discussions, Greece found itself dangerously close to leaving the eurozone.

On the line lay not only the country's destiny but also those severe austerity measures required in exchange for financial aid by international creditors.

Failed Options

Efforts to find financing from other sources, including an urgent plea to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.

Assisting Greece would be equivalent to tossing cash into the garbage, Putin reportedly told Tsipras during their meeting.

Public Vote Followed by Reversal

In July 2015, the excoriating conditions were subjected to a public vote, a move that threw Europe into deeper crisis of identity.

Although the referendum was won resoundingly by voters who opposed the cuts, Tsipras had little option but to reject its outcome and agree to a bailout package with foreign lenders that turned out to be even harsher.

Final Straw

Tsipras revealed that he began to doubt his finance minister quite early on.

“Varoufakis was the public image of the talks, the man who attracted media attention, who appeared on the covers of publications globally … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”

After Varoufakis outlined a backup strategy that included creating a secondary currency and issuing coupons to retirees, the leader knew it was the end questioning Varoufakis: “Is this for real?”

Enduring Rebuke

Within the book, the author asserts that Varoufakis had proved himself to be “unsuitable for a deal demanding intricate and sensitive handling.”

Tsipras further wrote that Varoufakis's confrontational approach made him increasingly isolated with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while assisted hawks that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

This account of history has been met with anger along with shock among certain groups, whereas the former minister has kept a conspicuous quiet on the matter.