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Within his freshly published memoir, titled Ithaki, the former prime minister Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism while he revisits that turbulent era of Greece's debt drama.

A Controversial Appointment

As per Tsipras's recollections, Tsipras chose that maverick academic Varoufakis as his treasury head primarily because of his international reputation and Varoufakis's very persuasive abilities as a public orator.

“In reality, he was, truthfully, more of a star and less of an economist,” stated Tsipras.

Conflicting Priorities

Tsipras suggests that Varoufakis had a personal motives that involved promoting his books and experimenting with his game theories using the nation instead of genuinely advocating the country's financial survival.

He noted that the discussions to avoid bankruptcy were “not only a way to secure improved terms for the country. They were an experiment, a monumental opportunity to demonstrate the validity of his theories.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

During rollercoaster negotiations, the country found itself perilously close to exiting the eurozone.

At stake lay both Greece's future and the harsh austerity measures demanded in exchange for rescue loans from international creditors.

Failed Options

Attempts to secure financing elsewhere, such as an urgent appeal to Russia to buy Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.

Helping Greece would be equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, Putin is reputed to have told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Referendum Followed by Reversal

In July 2015, the harsh bailout terms were subjected to a public vote, an action that threw the EU into deeper crisis of identity.

Even though the vote was carried decisively by those who opposed the cuts, the prime minister was forced to reject its outcome and agree to a bailout package with creditors that proved to be more severe.

Breaking Point

Tsipras claimed that he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.

“He was the public image of the talks, the figure who drew media attention, who appeared on the covers of magazines globally … it seemed he relished the spotlight.”

When the minister proposed a contingency plan that included establishing a secondary currency as well as distributing vouchers to pensioners, the leader knew that it was game over questioning Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”

Enduring Criticism

Within the memoir, Tsipras concludes how his former ally demonstrated himself “unfit for an agreement that required complex and sensitive handling.”

He further wrote how his aggressive approach left him increasingly isolated with colleagues, endangered the country, while helped hardliners who were advocating Grexit.

The account of events has been met with fury and stunned disbelief in some quarters, while the former minister has maintained a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.