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In a freshly published personal account, titled Ithaki, the former premier Alexis Tsipras does not hold back while he reflects on that chaotic period of Greece's economic turmoil.

An Unconventional Choice

As per the ex-PM's recollections, Tsipras selected the unorthodox economist Yanis Varoufakis as his treasury head mainly due to the latter's worldwide fame along with Varoufakis's “extremely attractive” abilities when it came to speaker.

“He was, actually, more like a star and less of an economist,” stated the 51-year-old.

Clashing Priorities

The former leader claims how his finance chief possessed his own agenda that included promoting his publications as well as experimenting with his game theories using the nation instead of truly fighting for the country's financial survival.

Tsipras wrote how those discussions to avoid insolvency were “not just a method of achieving improved terms for the country. They became a test, an historic chance to demonstrate the truth of his economic theories.”

Critical Talks

Amid rollercoaster discussions, the country found itself perilously close to exiting the single currency area.

On the line lay both the country's future but also those severe austerity policies demanded in return for bailout funds from international creditors.

Failed Options

Attempts to find funds from other sources, such as a desperate appeal to the Kremlin to purchase Greek bonds, went unanswered.

Assisting the indebted country was tantamount to tossing cash into the garbage, the Russian leader reportedly told Tsipras in Moscow.

Public Vote Followed by U-Turn

That summer, those harsh bailout terms were put to a public vote, a move that threw Europe into deeper existential crisis.

Even though the referendum was won decisively by voters against the cuts, the prime minister had little option but to ignore the result then agree to a rescue deal from creditors which proved to be more severe.

Final Straw

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

“He was the public image of negotiation, the figure who drew publicity, who appeared on the front pages of magazines the world over … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”

When Varoufakis outlined a backup strategy involving creating a parallel currency and distributing coupons to pensioners, Tsipras knew that it was the end and asked him: “Is this for real?”

Enduring Rebuke

In the book, the author asserts that Varoufakis had proved himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement that required intricate and delicate management.”

He also wrote how his confrontational approach left him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while helped hawks that were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

The account of history has been met with anger along with shock in some quarters, while the former minister has maintained a deafening silence on the matter.