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Within his recently unveiled personal account, titled Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Alexis Tsipras spares no criticism as he revisits that chaotic era during Greece's financial crisis.

A Controversial Choice

As per Tsipras's recollections, he chose that maverick academic Varoufakis to be the finance minister largely because of his worldwide fame and his highly compelling skills when it came to public orator.

“He was, in reality, more like a celebrity and less of an economic expert,” wrote Tsipras.

Conflicting Priorities

The former leader alleges how Varoufakis had a personal agenda which included promoting Varoufakis's publications as well as testing out his economic models using Greece instead of genuinely advocating its economic stability.

He wrote that those discussions to prevent bankruptcy were “not just a way to secure improved terms for Greece. They were a test, a monumental opportunity to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's theories.”

High-Stakes Talks

Amid tense discussions, the country found itself perilously on the brink of exiting the single currency area.

At stake lay not only Greece's destiny but also those punishing austerity measures demanded in return for bailout funds from foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Options

Attempts to find funds elsewhere, such as an urgent plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, were rejected.

Helping the indebted country would be tantamount to throwing money into the garbage, Putin reportedly informed his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Referendum and Reversal

That summer, the punitive conditions were subjected to a popular referendum, an action that threw the EU into a further crisis of identity.

Although the referendum was won decisively by voters against the cuts, Tsipras was forced to ignore the result and agree to a rescue deal with foreign lenders that turned out to be tougher.

Final Straw

Tsipras claimed that he began to doubt Varoufakis quite early on.

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

When Varoufakis outlined a contingency plan that included creating a secondary currency and issuing coupons to retirees, the leader said he realised that it was the end and asked Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”

Lasting Rebuke

In the book, Tsipras concludes how Varoufakis had proved himself to be “unfit for a deal that required intricate and delicate management.”

He also claimed that Varoufakis's confrontational approach made him more and more alone among peers, endangered the country, while assisted hawks who were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

The account of history has provoked fury and shock among certain groups, while Varoufakis has kept a deafening silence on the matter.