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In a freshly published autobiography, called Ithaki, the former prime minister Alexis Tsipras pulls no punches while he revisits the chaotic era of Greece's financial crisis.

An Unconventional Appointment

In Tsipras's account, he selected the maverick academic Varoufakis to be his finance minister mainly because of the latter's global profile along with Varoufakis's highly compelling abilities as a speaker.

“He was, truthfully, more of a celebrity rather than an economic expert,” stated the 51-year-old.

Conflicting Priorities

Tsipras claims that Varoufakis possessed a personal motives that included promoting his books and testing out his own theories using the nation rather than truly fighting for its financial survival.

He noted how the talks to prevent insolvency became “not only a method to secure improved terms for Greece. They became a test, an historic chance to demonstrate the validity of Varoufakis's economic theories.”

Critical Talks

During rollercoaster discussions, the country came dangerously close to leaving the single currency area.

On the line lay both Greece's future but also the severe austerity measures required in return for bailout funds by foreign lenders.

Unsuccessful Alternatives

Attempts to find funds from other sources, such as a desperate plea to the Kremlin to buy Greek government bonds, went unanswered.

Helping Greece would be equivalent to throwing money in the trash-can, Putin reportedly told his Greek counterpart in Moscow.

Public Vote and U-Turn

That summer, the harsh bailout terms were put to a public vote, an action that plunged the EU into further existential crisis.

Even though the vote was carried decisively by those who opposed the cuts, Tsipras was forced to reject its outcome then agree to a rescue deal with creditors that proved to be tougher.

Breaking Point

Tsipras claimed how he began to doubt his finance minister relatively soon.

“Varoufakis was the face of negotiation, the man who drew media attention, who appeared on the covers of publications globally … it seemed he was enjoying the spotlight.”

After Varoufakis proposed a backup strategy that included establishing a parallel currency as well as distributing vouchers to pensioners, the leader said he realised it was the end and asked Varoufakis: “Can you be serious?”

Lasting Rebuke

In the memoir, the author asserts how his former ally demonstrated himself “unfit for an agreement demanding complex and sensitive management.”

He also wrote how his aggressive style made him increasingly isolated among peers, put Greece at risk, while helped hawks that were pushing for a Greek exit from the euro.

This retelling of events has been met with anger along with stunned disbelief in some quarters, whereas Varoufakis has so far kept a deafening silence regarding these claims.