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In a recently unveiled memoir, titled Ithaki, the ex- prime minister Tsipras spares no criticism while he examines the turbulent era during Greece's economic turmoil.

An Unconventional Choice

In Tsipras's recollections, Tsipras appointed the maverick academic Yanis Varoufakis as his finance minister largely due to the latter's global profile and his very persuasive abilities when it came to communicator.

“He was, truthfully, more of a celebrity and less of an economist,” recalled the 51-year-old.

Clashing Priorities

Tsipras suggests that his finance chief possessed his own motives which included advancing Varoufakis's books and testing out his own theories using Greece rather than truly advocating its economic stability.

He noted that those talks to prevent bankruptcy became “not just a method of achieving improved terms for Greece. They were an experiment, a monumental chance to prove the validity of Varoufakis's theories.”

Critical Talks

Amid volatile negotiations, the country found itself perilously on the brink of exiting the single currency area.

On the line lay not only the country's destiny and those punishing austerity measures required in exchange for rescue loans from international creditors.

Failed Options

Efforts to secure funds from other sources, including a desperate plea to Russia to buy Greek government bonds, fell on stony ground.

Assisting Greece was equivalent to tossing cash in the trash-can, the Russian leader reportedly informed his Greek counterpart during their meeting.

Referendum and Reversal

That summer, the excoriating conditions were put to a popular referendum, a move which plunged Europe into further existential crisis.

Even though the vote was won resoundingly by voters who opposed austerity, Tsipras had little option but to reject its outcome then negotiate a rescue deal with creditors which proved to be more severe.

Breaking Point

The ex-PM claimed how he began to doubt Varoufakis relatively soon.

“He was the face of the talks, the figure who attracted publicity, who appeared on the covers of publications the world over … he gave the impression he relished the spotlight.”

When Varoufakis proposed a contingency plan involving creating a parallel currency and issuing vouchers to retirees, Tsipras knew that it was the end and asked him: “Is this for real?”

Lasting Criticism

In the memoir, the author asserts that Varoufakis demonstrated himself to be “unsuitable for an agreement that required complex and sensitive management.”

He further wrote that Varoufakis's aggressive style made him more and more alone with colleagues, put Greece at risk, while helped hawks who were pushing for Grexit.

The retelling of history has been met with anger along with stunned disbelief among certain groups, whereas Varoufakis has kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.