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Within his recently unveiled memoir, named Ithaki, the former leader Alexis Tsipras does not hold back as he reflects on the turbulent era of Greece's financial crisis.

An Unconventional Appointment

As per Tsipras's version, Tsipras appointed that unorthodox academic Varoufakis to be the treasury head primarily due to his worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's highly compelling abilities when it came to communicator.

“In reality, he was, truthfully, more of a personality and less of an economic expert,” recalled Tsipras.

Conflicting Agendas

The former leader alleges that his finance chief possessed his own agenda that included promoting Varoufakis's books and testing out his own theories on Greece instead of genuinely fighting for the country's economic stability.

He explained how the talks to prevent insolvency became “not only a method of achieving improved terms for the country. They became an experiment, a monumental chance to demonstrate the validity of his ideas.”

Critical Negotiations

Amid tense discussions, the country came dangerously on the brink of exiting the eurozone.

At stake was both Greece's destiny and the severe austerity measures required in return for rescue loans from international creditors.

Failed Options

Attempts to find funds from other sources, such as an urgent plea to Russia to buy Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.

Helping the indebted country was tantamount to throwing money in the trash-can, Putin is reputed to have informed Tsipras in Moscow.

Referendum Followed by U-Turn

That summer, the excoriating conditions were put to a public vote, a move that plunged the EU into further existential crisis.

Even though the referendum was carried decisively by voters who opposed the cuts, the prime minister was forced to ignore the result and negotiate a bailout package from creditors which proved to be even harsher.

Final Straw

The ex-PM revealed that he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.

“He was the public image of negotiation, the figure who attracted media attention, who graced the front pages of magazines globally … he gave the impression he was enjoying the spotlight.”

When Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan involving establishing a parallel currency as well as distributing vouchers to retirees, the leader knew that it was the end questioning him: “Is this for real?”

Lasting Criticism

Within the book, the author concludes that his former ally had proved himself “unsuitable for a deal that required complex and delicate management.”

Tsipras further claimed that his confrontational approach made him increasingly isolated with colleagues, endangered the country, while helped hawks who were advocating a Greek exit from the euro.

This account of events has provoked anger along with shock in some quarters, while Varoufakis has maintained a conspicuous quiet regarding these claims.