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In a freshly published personal account, called Ithaki, the former premier Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism while he examines the turbulent period during Greece's financial crisis.

A Controversial Appointment

In the ex-PM's recollections, Tsipras chose that unorthodox academic Yanis Varoufakis as the treasury head mainly because of his international reputation along with his “extremely attractive” abilities when it came to public orator.

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

Clashing Agendas

The former leader suggests how his finance chief possessed his own agenda which involved advancing his books and testing out his theories using the nation instead of truly fighting for the country's economic stability.

Tsipras explained how the discussions to stave off insolvency were “not just a method to secure improved terms for Greece. They were an experiment, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's ideas.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

Amid rollercoaster discussions, the country came perilously close to leaving the eurozone.

On the line was both Greece's future but also those harsh austerity measures demanded in return for rescue loans by international creditors.

Failed Alternatives

Attempts to find financing elsewhere, such as a desperate plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, were rejected.

Helping the indebted country would be tantamount to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Public Vote and U-Turn

In July 2015, those punitive bailout terms were put to a public vote, an action which plunged Europe into a further existential crisis.

Although the referendum was won resoundingly by voters who opposed the cuts, the prime minister had little option but to reject its outcome then agree to a rescue deal with creditors that turned out to be more severe.

Breaking Point

The ex-PM revealed how he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.

“He was the public image of negotiation, the figure who drew media attention, who graced the front pages of publications globally … he gave the impression he relished his new role.”

When the minister proposed a contingency plan that included creating a secondary currency and issuing coupons to retirees, the leader knew it was the end questioning him: “Is this for real?”

Lasting Criticism

Within the book, the author asserts that Varoufakis demonstrated himself to be “unfit for an agreement demanding complex and delicate handling.”

He also wrote that his aggressive style made him increasingly isolated among peers, endangered the country, and assisted hawks who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

The account of events has provoked anger along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas Varoufakis has maintained a conspicuous quiet on the matter.