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Within his recently unveiled autobiography, called Ithaki, the former prime minister Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism while he examines that turbulent era during Greece's economic turmoil.

An Unconventional Appointment

According to Tsipras's recollections, he appointed the unorthodox academic Varoufakis to be his treasury head primarily due to his worldwide fame along with his very persuasive skills as a public orator.

“He was, actually, more of a celebrity rather than an economic expert,” wrote Tsipras.

Conflicting Agendas

Tsipras claims that his finance chief had a personal agenda which included promoting Varoufakis's publications as well as experimenting with his own game theories on the nation instead of truly fighting for the country's economic stability.

He explained that the talks to avoid bankruptcy were “not just a way to secure improved terms for the country. They were an experiment, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's economic theories.”

High-Stakes Talks

During tense negotiations, Greece came perilously on the brink of exiting the single currency area.

On the line was both Greece's future but also those punishing austerity policies required in exchange for rescue loans by international creditors.

Failed Options

Efforts to secure financing from other sources, such as an urgent appeal to the Kremlin to buy Greek bonds, went unanswered.

Helping the indebted country was equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, Putin reportedly told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Referendum and Reversal

In July 2015, those excoriating conditions were put to a popular referendum, a move that threw Europe into further existential crisis.

Although the referendum was carried resoundingly by voters against austerity, Tsipras had little option to ignore the result and agree to a rescue deal from foreign lenders that turned out to be tougher.

Breaking Point

Tsipras claimed how he started questioning his finance minister quite early on.

“He was the public image of the talks, the figure who attracted publicity, who graced the front pages of magazines globally … it seemed he relished his new role.”

After the minister outlined a backup strategy that included creating a parallel currency and issuing coupons to pensioners, the leader knew it was the end and asked Varoufakis: “Are you serious?”

Lasting Rebuke

In the memoir, the author asserts how his former ally demonstrated himself “unsuitable for a deal demanding complex and sensitive management.”

He also wrote that Varoufakis's aggressive style left him more and more alone with colleagues, endangered the country, and assisted hawks that were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

The account of history has been met with anger along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas the former minister has so far maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.