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In a freshly published personal account, called Ithaki, the former prime minister Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism while he revisits that chaotic era during Greece's debt drama.

An Unconventional Appointment

As per Tsipras's account, he appointed that unorthodox academic Varoufakis to be his finance minister largely due to the latter's global profile along with Varoufakis's very persuasive abilities when it came to public orator.

“He was, actually, more like a celebrity rather than an economist,” wrote Tsipras.

Clashing Agendas

Tsipras claims that Varoufakis had a personal agenda that included advancing Varoufakis's books and testing out his economic models on the nation instead of truly advocating the country's economic stability.

Tsipras wrote how the talks to prevent insolvency were “not just a method of achieving improved terms for the country. They were a test, a monumental opportunity to demonstrate the truth of Varoufakis's theories.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

Amid rollercoaster negotiations, Greece came perilously close to leaving the eurozone.

At stake lay not only the country's future but also the harsh cutbacks demanded in exchange for bailout funds from foreign lenders.

Failed Alternatives

Attempts to find funds from other sources, such as a desperate appeal to Russia to buy Greek bonds, fell on stony ground.

Helping Greece was tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, the Russian leader reportedly informed Tsipras in Moscow.

Referendum and Reversal

That summer, the harsh conditions were put to a public vote, a move that plunged Europe into deeper crisis of identity.

Even though the referendum was carried decisively by those who opposed austerity, the prime minister was forced but to ignore the result and negotiate a bailout package from foreign lenders which proved to be more severe.

Breaking Point

The ex-PM claimed how he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.

“Varoufakis was the public image of the talks, the man who attracted media attention, who appeared on the front pages of publications the world over … he gave the impression he was enjoying the spotlight.”

After the minister outlined a contingency plan involving establishing a parallel currency and issuing vouchers to pensioners, the leader said he realised it was the end questioning him: “Can you be serious?”

Lasting Criticism

Within the book, Tsipras concludes how his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement that required complex and sensitive handling.”

Tsipras further wrote how his aggressive style made him increasingly isolated with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while assisted hawks that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

The retelling of events has been met with anger and stunned disbelief among certain groups, while Varoufakis has so far kept a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.