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Within his freshly published autobiography, titled Ithaki, the former leader Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism as he examines the chaotic era of Greece's economic turmoil.

An Unconventional Appointment

As per the ex-PM's recollections, he selected the unorthodox academic Varoufakis as the treasury head largely due to his worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's very persuasive abilities as a public orator.

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

Conflicting Priorities

Tsipras alleges that Varoufakis possessed his own motives that involved promoting Varoufakis's publications and testing out his own theories on Greece rather than genuinely fighting for its financial survival.

Tsipras wrote that those negotiations to stave off insolvency became “not only a way to secure improved terms for the country. They were an experiment, a monumental chance to prove the validity of Varoufakis's theories.”

High-Stakes Negotiations

Amid rollercoaster discussions, Greece came dangerously close to exiting the eurozone.

On the line was both the country's destiny and those harsh austerity policies required in exchange for bailout funds by international creditors.

Unsuccessful Options

Efforts to find funds elsewhere, such as a desperate appeal to Russia to purchase Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.

Assisting the indebted country was equivalent to throwing money into the garbage, Putin is reputed to have informed Tsipras in Moscow.

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

That summer, those excoriating bailout terms were put to a public vote, an action which threw Europe into deeper crisis of identity.

Even though the vote was won resoundingly by those who opposed austerity, Tsipras had little option to reject its outcome and agree to a bailout package from foreign lenders that turned out to be tougher.

Final Straw

The ex-PM claimed that he began to doubt Varoufakis quite early on.

“Varoufakis was the face of the talks, the figure who attracted publicity, who appeared on the front pages of magazines globally … he gave the impression he relished his new role.”

When Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan involving creating a secondary currency and issuing vouchers to retirees, the leader knew it was game over questioning him: “Are you serious?”

Enduring Criticism

In the memoir, the author concludes how his former ally demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement demanding intricate and delicate management.”

Tsipras also wrote how Varoufakis's aggressive style left him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, and helped hawks who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

This retelling of events has provoked fury along with shock in some quarters, while the former minister has maintained a deafening silence regarding these claims.