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Within his freshly published personal account, titled Ithaki, the ex- leader Alexis Tsipras pulls no punches as he examines that turbulent period during Greece's financial crisis.

A Controversial Choice

In the ex-PM's account, he selected the maverick academic Varoufakis as the finance minister largely because of his worldwide fame and his highly compelling abilities when it came to speaker.

“He was, in reality, more of a personality and less of an economist,” stated the 51-year-old.

Clashing Agendas

The former leader suggests that Varoufakis had a personal motives that included advancing Varoufakis's books and testing out his own game theories on Greece instead of truly fighting for the country's financial survival.

Tsipras explained how the negotiations to prevent insolvency were “not only a method of achieving improved terms for the country. They were an experiment, an historic opportunity to demonstrate the truth of Varoufakis's ideas.”

Critical Talks

Amid volatile discussions, Greece came perilously close to leaving the single currency area.

On the line was not only the country's future but also the harsh cutbacks required in exchange for financial aid from international creditors.

Unsuccessful Alternatives

Attempts to secure financing from other sources, including an urgent appeal to Russia to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.

Helping Greece was tantamount to throwing money in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly told his Greek counterpart during their meeting.

Public Vote Followed by Reversal

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

Even though the vote was carried resoundingly by those against austerity, the prime minister was forced to ignore the result then negotiate a bailout package from creditors that proved to be even harsher.

Final Straw

The ex-PM revealed that he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.

“He was the public image of the talks, the man who attracted media attention, who appeared on the covers of magazines globally … it seemed he relished his new role.”

After Varoufakis proposed a backup strategy involving creating a secondary currency as well as issuing coupons to retirees, the leader said he realised that it was game over and asked him: “Is this for real?”

Lasting Rebuke

In the memoir, the author asserts how Varoufakis had proved himself “unfit for a deal that required complex and delicate handling.”

Tsipras also wrote how Varoufakis's aggressive approach left him increasingly isolated with colleagues, endangered the country, and assisted hardliners that were pushing for Grexit.

This account of events has provoked fury along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, while Varoufakis has maintained a deafening silence on the matter.